A Prince George man has been found guilty of mischief for wilfully damaging a city lamp post, scribbling on it with a blue felt marker on Aug. 9, 2023.
"The cost of repainting the lamp post is unknown, but presumably far less than the statutory limit of $5,000," states a Jan. 2 provincial court ruling.
However, the damage done to the lamp post can only be remedied by repainting it, testified a City of Prince George bylaw officer who caught the accused, Eric James Reid, during the act.
The lamp post is located by a furniture store in the 1300 block of Third Avenue, and Reid was asked to stop writing on the lamppost by the bylaw officer, but refused to comply. The RCMP were then called, arresting Reid.
The bylaw officer told court that the accused was known to them, testifying that Reid had uttered threats on previous encounters in May and June of 2023.
The bylaw officer also took photographs of Reid writing on the lamppost, which were presented as evidence during court proceedings, in addition to the RCMP officer who arrested Reid testifying to their identity as the person who wrote on the lamppost.
