RCMP make arrest after trees cut down in park

Two men are facing theft charges after allegedly cutting down trees in a Lake Country park.

A police officer was conducting patrols in the area of Jack Seaton Park in Lake Country on the morning of Jan. 2 after seeing social media posts about trees being removed from local parks illegally. The posts indicated that someone had cut down several trees and removed them from the park for firewood.

In the 10,000 block of Tyndall Road, the officer noticed marks in snow indicating that trees had been dragged out to the road side and bucked up. The Mountie also saw 13 freshly cut tree stumps along with one full cut tree left behind and leaning against others.

“Using photographs from witnesses in the neighbourhood, the officer was able to identify a suspect vehicle and two male occupants,” Const. Mike Della-Paolera, a media relations officer for the RCMP said.

The officer conducted more patrols later that day and saw two men removing fresh cut trees from the park.

The officer arrested the men who now face charges of theft under $5,000. Both are Lake Country residents who are under conditions not to be in any park in the Lake Country area.

“This officer took the time to follow local social media which helped identify a public concern, but the RCMP is encouraging citizens to call police directly when witnessing suspicious activities in our parks, for example the sound of chainsaws,” Della-Paolera said.

The case still under investigation and further charges are possible.

Any Lake Country residents with information are asked to call the RCMP at (250) 766-2288 and reference file 2023-216.

Meantime, the District of Lake Country said a professional arborist along with its parks staff will be working in Jack Seaton Park, and along the trail heading to Tyndall Road, starting Jan. 5 to remove the danger trees left by illegal cutting activity.