A 48-year-old man was arrested after grabbing a kitty from a Drummond convenience store on Friday afternoon and fleeing while trying to set fire to an apartment.

Armed with a blunt object, the individual allegedly threatened the employees and customers of a Drummondville convenience store around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, in order to recover the money from the cash register. While fleeing the convenience store with his loot, the 48-year-old man allegedly continued to threaten passers-by.

In contact with the police officers of the MRC Saint-Damase, the suspect would have locked himself in an apartment on 14th street and would have started to set fire to it. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene and were able to bring the blaze under control. Residents of the area were also evacuated as a precaution.

Once contained by the police, the man was taken to the hospital center where a psychological examination should be carried out.

"The suspect could face charges of robbery on a business as well as on a person, assault with a weapon on a police officer, arson, mischief and breach of condition", mentioned Nicolas Scholtus, door- floor for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).

The perimeter has since been lifted and residents of the area have been able to return to their residence.