Two local men were arrested and charged for allegedly breaking into and damaging the new library and cultural centre, April 19.
According to police, RCMP investigators responded to a call at the library construction site and discovered spray painted graffiti on several walls inside the building and found several fire extinguishers had also been discharged. Police estimate there is more than $5,000 in damages.
Shortly after police responded to the call, officers received another complaint of graffiti in the pedestrian underpass below the train tracks on Hazel Avenue. Upon arrival, police discovered a significant amount of graffiti, including the word 鈥淐hase,鈥� which is the first name of one of the men allegedly connected to the crime.
The RCMP also received additional calls about graffiti on a vehicle parked at the local hospital, as well as a front-end loader, a local business and a seniors鈥� residence.
RCMP investigators arrested and charged Chase Fogarty-Landsman and Parker Broadfoot with multiple charges of mischief, break and enter to the library and breaching court documents.
Both individuals are local residents and will appear in Jasper Provincial Court April 28 at 10 a.m.
鈥淎s community members we can all do our part to keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity,鈥� said RCMP Sgt. Rick Bidaisee.
Mark Fercho, the town鈥檚 chief administrative officer, assured the public that the damage to the library would not cause any additional delays to the project.
鈥淭he damage will be repaired when painters return to finish the project and this will not cause any delays,鈥� wrote Fercho in an email, April 20.
Mayor Richard Ireland voiced his concern about the vandalism in an email from Hawaii.
鈥淎lthough it is, of course, both concerning and frustrating to have suffered vandalism to municipal facilities it is very disturbing to hear of vandalism to the seniors鈥� lodge, to an individual鈥檚 vehicle, to a local business and to someone鈥檚 equipment. Full credit to the RCMP for their rapid investigation leading to charges so quickly,鈥� he wrote.
Last week, Fercho told mayor and council there were no major issues holding up completion of the town鈥檚 library and cultural centre, which is $1.5 million over budget and three years behind schedule.
鈥淏y the end of April, early May, we will be in a position to tell you with 100 per cent confidence when the building will be completed, and people will begin to move in or that contractors have been terminated,鈥� said Fercho, during a committee-of-the-whole meeting April 12.
He said the biggest hold up right now is scheduling contractors to install the cabinetry.
鈥淭here鈥檚 literally less than a week鈥檚 worth of work left for a lot of the sub-trades, but they鈥檙e unable to complete their work until the cabinetry is installed,鈥� said Fercho.
鈥淚 have quit giving dates because the community doesn鈥檛 want to hear dates. The next time the community is told a date it will be the date,鈥� said Fercho, adding the building is more than 93 per cent complete at this point.
Anyone who suspects suspicious activity in the community is urged to contact the Jasper RCMP at 780-852-4421 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
