Route route links
- news
- Local news
- crime
The damage to the bridge on Sunday will cost the city of Calgary hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair
Damage is shown on the Peace Bridge near downtown Calgary on Sunday, July 24, 2022. Several panels have broken off, causing thousands of damage. Jim Wells/Postmedia
Content of the article
Calgary police have arrested and charged a man believed to be responsible for extensive damage to the Peace Bridge.
Content of the article
Officers were called to the Pau Bridge around 4 a.m. on Sunday for reports that a man was breaking the glass panels of the bridge. When police arrived, about 70 windows had been broken and the suspect evaded arrest.
In a news release Wednesday, Calgary police said they were investigating a separate incident of vandalism on the bridge that occurred June 18 around 1:10 a.m., in which a single pane of glass was broken . Through their investigation into Sunday’s destruction, officers believe both cases of vandalism were committed by the same person.
Brian Douglas Jensen, 58, has been arrested and charged in connection with both incidents, according to Calgary police.
Jensen is charged with two counts each of embezzlement of property over $5,000, disturbing the peace, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, breach of a conditional sentence order and a breach of a removal order illegal waste in a park.
He is scheduled to appear in court on August 5.
The damage to the bridge Sunday will cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair and has reopened discussions about the cost of maintaining the iconic bridge.
Anyone with information about any vandalism is encouraged to call police at 403-266-1234 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or calgarycrimestoppers.org.
sbabych@postmedia.comTwitter: @BabychStephanie