A Squamish resident who admitted he dumped a load of used drywall last week at a trailhead in downtown Squamish could be facing a fine of up to $5,000 for his troubles.
Last Thursday (March 24) at 2:50 p.m., a witness contacted Squamish RCMP to report having seen a man pull a pick-up truck to the end of a trail at the end of Second Avenue, where the man allegedly proceeded to dump waste drywall material, RCMP Staff Sgt. Guy Pollock said in a statement.
The witness provided police with a vehicle description and licence plate number, and police found the vehicle at an address on Second Avenue. An officer spoke to the vehicle's owner, who admitted to dumping the drywall, Pollock said.
The man was ordered to retrieve the material, but the incident was referred to both District of Squamish bylaw officers and conservation officers and remains under investigation, Pollock said.
Drywall contains chemicals that, when wet, can leach into groundwater and become an acidic contaminant. Because of the environmental concerns, regular landfills such as the District of Squamish facility charges $140 a metric ton to receive the drywall, which is then taken to a company in the Lower Mainland that recycles the gypsum, Pollock said.
In this case, "the drywall was dumped because of the cost associated [with] taking it to the DOS landfill," Pollock said, adding that the maximum fine for dumping such material is $5,000.
Pollock said illegal dumping has become a concern in Squamish recently, and he urged citizens who witness what they believe to be illegal dumping to report it to Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100, to conservation officers, or to the Ministry of Environment's Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line anonymously at 1-877-952-7277.
Theft probed
Last Wednesday (March 23) at around 9 p.m., a man entered the downtown Field's store and stole a duvet, foam mattress cover and sheets. He fled by bicycle as store employees pursued, but were unable to catch him.
Staff, however, were able to provide a description of the man, and based on the description, the attending officer was able to recognize a probable offender, Pollock said. The office went a four-unit rental complex on Third Avenue and retrieved the stolen items from a common garage at the home, with the help of the building manager. The suspect, however, was not found and the matter remains under investigation.
Copper stolen in break-in
Last Thursday at 7:22 a.m., staff at a business on Galbraith Avenue, near the Squamish oceanfront, reported that a break-in had occurred overnight and that about $100 worth of copper wire had been stolen. The property also sustained about $1,000 in damage, Pollock said. The matter is under investigation.
No laughing matter
On Saturday (March 26) at 10 p.m., staff at Squamish General Hospital reported that an unknown male had entered the maternity area at the hospital and stole two bottles of entonox (a.k.a. nitrous oxide or laughing gas) and two regulators. Security cameras captured images of the suspect. Police are investigating.
Prohibited driver nabbed
On Sunday (March 27) at 9:30 a.m., Squamish Highway Patrol members using an automated licence plate recognition device registered a "hit" on the device at Highway 99 and Production Way, indicating that the owner of a passing vehicle was prohibited from driving. On March 17, the driver had been stopped along Skyline Drive and investigated for impaired driving, resulting in a vehicle impoundment and a driving prohibition. During Sunday's incident, he was arrested for driving while prohibited and given a notice to appear in court. The vehicle was again impounded for seven days, Pollock said.
