A man who pleaded guilty to setting a Dawson City RCMP building on fire in June was sentenced in territorial court in Whitehorse this morning.

Murdock Saunders, 26, had also pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer.

He was given a two-year conditional sentence followed by probation, with a curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the first nine months.

This means his sentence will be carried out within the community provided he follows the conditions of his release.

They include abstaining from illegal drugs and alcohol, reporting to court and to his sentence supervisor whenever necessary, following orders for psychological and substance abuse treatment and counselling, and paying a fine to help cover costs of damage.

The incident, which is estimated to have caused between $69,000 and $75,000 in damage, occurred at around 4 a.m. last June 1.

Judge John Faulkner outlined the early-morning events in his sentencing decision.

Using rocks to shatter the windows, Saunders first broke into the Dawson RCMP detachment, then brought a garden hose inside the building and began flooding it.

Next, he broke into a search and rescue vehicle and discharged a fire extinguisher inside before heading into the basement of one of three police garages and setting it on fire. The blaze caused serious damage to the garage and a jet boat parked beside it.

According to police reports at the time, the two other nearby garages sustained minimal damage.

It was Saunders himself who alerted police to the fire, Faulkner said.

While no one was inside the Dawson detachment due to the hour, there were officers on call who were contacted by the 911-line in Whitehorse.

Sgt. Tim Ashmore, who lived adjacent to the detachment building at the time, responded to the call along with another officer.

Saunders told Ashmore he had set the fire. The officer told him he was under arrest.

A struggle ensued when, 'without warning,' Saunders punched Ashmore in the face numerous times, breaking his glasses in the process, Faulkner said.

The other officer suffered a broken finger and Saunders also had minor injuries, he told the court.

'It must be noted that the incident was quite traumatic for the officers involved,' Faulkner said.

Saunders calmed down after the struggle and proceeded to co-operate with police.

Psychological assessments that Saunders underwent after the event revealed he has struggled with depression since the age of 16. He also suffers from bipolar disorder.

As a result of these disorders, he has been hospitalized and has attempted suicide, according to the court.

In the months leading up to the incident in Dawson, Saunders had stopped taking his antidepressant drugs, had quit his job and was drinking and doing illegal drugs, court heard.

At the time when he set fire to the building and assaulted Sgt. Ashmore, he was in a 'manic state,' Faulkner said.

Saunders maintained he went to the detachment and broke the windows hoping an alarm would be set off, Faulkner told the court, because he knew he needed help.

When no alarm was set off, he grew angry and frustrated and continued on his damage spree.

'There is nothing to suggest he did what he did out of ill will or grievance towards the RCMP, Faulkner said.

While sentencing for arson must account for deterrence, Saunders' specific circumstances also need to be considered, Faulkner said.

Throughout his sentence and his probationary period, Saunders is required by the court to remain under the care of a psychiatrist and to undergo any treatment, counselling or assessments required by his supervisor.

He is also required to follow medical regimes set out by his psychiatrist and supervisor, including taking medication.