East Ottawa business wants police to reopen investigation into damaged trucks
An east Ottawa business says it believes it knows who punctured dozens of dump truck tires in January but is frustrated that, months later, whoever is responsible remains at large.
"One of our employees here discovered that someone had broken into our yard across the road and had flattened 30 tires on dump trucks and tractor trailers and I guess caused a little over $40,000 worth of damage," said Sean Saunders, general manager for Maurice Yelle Excavation.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
It happened on Jan. 20, in the yard where Maurice Yelle Excavation parks its trucks.
Staff looked through security footage and recognized a vehicle they say matches one driven by a former employee.
"He had made threats to break some things during his exit interview and a couple days prior," said Saunders. "So, we have a pretty good idea of who committed the crime, and I think it was just revenge based."
Security video shows a vehicle near the Maurice Yelle Excavation parking lot on Jan. 20, 2024, the night a dozen trucks were damaged. (Maurice Yelle Excavation/supplied)
Months have passed, but no arrests have been made.
"The Break and Enter Unit investigated the file, which included reviewing CCTV footage from several businesses in the area," Ottawa police said. "Due to a lack of evidence, the file has since been closed. Should new information be obtained, the file may be reopened."
The company says officers made several phone calls to the potential suspect and the OPP confirms it visited a home at the request of Ottawa police.
But the company says that is not good enough. It wants to see the investigation reopened with more effort being made to make contact with the person they believe did this.
"They kind of agree with us that they kind of know that's the same person, the same vehicle, but since they don't see the person's face, they don't see the license plate, they cannot go to a judge to get a warrant to get this guy arrested or brought into the station," said Maurice Yelle Excavation health and safety officer Denis Perrault.
A closeup photo of a punctured tire from one of Maurice Yelle Excavation's damaged trucks. (Katie Griffin/CTV News Ottawa)
Saunders says the incident has been frustrating and costly.
"Because it was 12 different vehicles that were damaged, they're claiming that it's 12 separate claims. So, in this case, we would get no reimbursement whatsoever and for a small family business like us, it's not easy to absorb this type of cost," he said.
The company has put up a $10,000 reward for information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.