A Sundre father and son who face fraud charges relating to the arson of their Calgary-based business will enter their pleas next month.
Nicolas Rocco Gallipoli, 28, of Sundre, was recently charged with arson causing damage to property, arson causing damage to own property and risking others, as well as arson for a fraudulent purpose. His father Mario Rocco Gallipoli, 62, also of Sundre, has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000.
The Calgary Police Service Arson Unit charged the two Sundre males in connection with an arson that occurred last September. At about 2:25 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, an alarm was triggered, indicating a break-in at a business called Tail Lights Truck & Auto in a strip mall located in the 6000 block of 6th Street SE. Shortly afterwards, a report of a fire at the same address came in, said police.
The Calgary Fire Department attended the scene and protected neighbouring businesses from further damage. The building was deemed unstable and damage was estimated at $500,000, said police.
“Evidence located at the scene clearly indicated the fire was not accidental,” Det. Torrie Killam recently told the Round Up.
Although he could not discuss the details of the arson as the case is before the courts, Killam said the cause of the fire was suspicious right from the onset of the investigation. It wasn't a mystery as to how the blaze started, but rather who was behind it, and the following investigation led to the charges being laid, he said.
“We were able to build a pretty strong case,” said the detective.
The cases for both father and son first went before the courts in Calgary on Friday, April 29, when they were adjourned to Friday, May 20. The cases then were adjourned to Thursday, June 9 for election and plea in Calgary.
