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Police cadets discover ambulance set on fire; man arrested

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A 52-year-old man was charged with setting an ambulance on fire Tuesday night that was stored at Catawba Valley Community Colleges East Campus.

Basic Law Enforcement Training cadets discovered the ambulance, which is owned by CVCC, on fire and worked to extinguish the flames.

Investigators with the Hickory City Fire Marshal’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation used surveillance footage on campus to find the suspect.

Authorities found Paul Peter Lavoie on Wednesday morning in the Mountain View community, and he was arrested.

Lavoie was charged with breaking or entering to a motor vehicle and burning personal property. Lavoie received a $15,000 secured bond and will appear in Catawba County District Court on Thursday.

The motive is under investigation.

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