During Public Comments at the last Board of Supervisors meeting, supervisors heard the seething anger over a spate of criminal break-ins upon several fishermen who own equipment sheds off Elk Valley Road.
Fisherman Doug Cairns addressed supervisors, saying his shed has been broken into at least four times over the last several weeks reportedly by occupants of the homeless encampments and a growing criminal element who operate with apparent impunity and no consequences behind South Bend Avenue, north of Elk Valley Road. Several other shed owners shared their horror stories of chronic break-ins, stolen equipment and supplies and wanton vandalism.
Cairns lamented, “Supervisors, our town is a welfare state. These tweekers are hurting us.”
Cairns and his group have called Sheriff Garrett Scott and complained, but no arrests have been made, no charges brought, no court action filed and no relief provided during this apparent crime wave. The short handed DNSD is attempting to do what it can with a critically short-staffed department.
Fifth District Supervisor Dean Wilson, whose district in which these crimes have been committed, absorbed the brunt of the fishermen’s wrath. Former Sheriff Wilson shared the fishermen’s frustration and asked for patience as code enforcement, community development and the sheriff implement just approved funding to remove those who are living illegally and who soon be placed in court-ordered sheltered housing. Wilson holds the state responsible for the lawlessness and chaos in the woods.
He explained, “ t’s a slow process but solutions are on the horizon. I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
Meanwhile, vehicle dumping and trash accumulation continue to wreak havoc along the Elk Valley corridor and deep into the heavy overgrowth, north of Elk Valley Road.