Bill McDougall Park trashed in Wallaceburg

A park in Wallaceburg was the target of vandals on Saturday afternoon.

Wallaceburg resident Tiff Caughy said she spotted a group of about seven to nine 12 to 13-year-old boys doing damage inside the Bill McDougall Park, at the corner of Agnes Street and Elizabeth Street.

She said the damage was caused between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“I called the police at 519-352-1234, as I believe this was not an emergency to be calling 911 over,” she said.

I was told they would send an officer. The boys continued to trash the park for a half an hour. They left… still no police. They never once showed up. Now, due to their failure to respond, we as tax payers will have repair the park.”

“It was sure disappointing,” she added.

Const. Renee Cowell, public information officer for the Chatham-Kent Police Service, said officers were tied up with other calls at the time of the incident.

“Unfortunately our officers were dealing with priority calls at that specific time and no one was able to attend in time to catch or identify them,” Cowell told the Sydenham Current.

“Of course, anyone who sees someone or something suspicious is urged to call police immediately.”

Cowell said this type of incident is not a situation where 911 should be called.

“911 is only when emergency personnel is needed immediately for an emergency… they should in this case call our non-emergency number 519-352-1234.”

Cowell added the Chatham-Kent Public Works Department was advised of the damage inside the park.

Municipal officials say the total damage estimate has yet to be tallied.

Here are some photos of the damage submitted by Tiff Caughy:

– Submitted photos