A student was arrested during the UBC leg of the torch relay last Thursday.

Staff Sergeant Kevin Kenna of the university RCMP detachment said the arrest was due to possession of stolen property.

“We had a report of a number of fire extinguishers stolen from the Thunderbird [Winter Sports Centre] parkade,” Kenna told The Ubyssey. “He was found with a fire extinguisher at the torch run.”

The student, whom The Ubyssey has learned is Science student James Zhou, was released that evening. Kenna said that 31 fire extinguishers were stolen.

When asked if the theft and the torch relay were connected, Kenna responded, “it was certainly a factor. We got the information the same day.”

“The individual was at the torch relay…[an] odd place to have a fire extinguisher.”

Kenna said that an investigation is still underway. Zhou could not be reached for comment.