DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
A property in Fort Resolution was recently the site of vandalism and an alleged arson – three days after it had also been the location of a significant drug seizure.

This garage/workshop was destroyed by an alleged arson in Fort Resolution on April 19. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The RCMP is looking into whether the two incidents might be connected.

Sgt. Barry Ledoux, the media relations officer with the RCMP's G Division in Yellowknife, confirmed a house that was ransacked – although not the target of the alleged arson – was also the subject of an earlier police search.

Asked if there is a link between the two incidents, Ledoux replied, "That's part of the investigation that's ongoing to see if there was a connection."

The sergeant said he is not at liberty to comment further until the facts have been determined.

"There is still a lot of legwork to be done in a complicated investigation like this," he noted.

According to the RCMP, a large garage/workshop and a storage building on the property, located on Highway 6 as it enters the community, were destroyed by fire on April 19. A number of vehicles in and around the buildings, along with vehicle parts and tools, were also destroyed.

The police say the fire has been determined to be arson.

At the same time, the main residence was also found to have been broken into and vandalized through broken windows, graffiti and overturned furniture. Some items are also believed to have been stolen.

The police estimate that, overall, tens of thousands of dollars worth of vehicles, vehicle parts and tools were destroyed, along with the buildings. That estimate also includes damage to the residence.

On April 21, the Fort Resolution RCMP executed two search warrants on two residences in relation to the arson investigation and recovered stolen property from the break-in at the residence.

As a result, a 16-year-old male from Fort Resolution has been charged with break and enter, arson and mischief under $5,000.

A second 16-year-old male from Fort Resolution has been charged with theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, breach of a youth probation, and breach of a Justice of the Peace undertaking.

On April 16, the RCMP had executed a search warrant at the residence at which the vandalism took place.

That search yielded approximately 1.8 kilograms of marijuana, 95 grams of hashish and 28 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms). The police also seized six rifles, ammunition and a modified .22 calibre rifle.

That drug seizure is still under investigation, and no charges had been laid as of April 24.

The owners of the property were in British Columbia during the drug seizure and the fire, but arrived home on April 23 to assess the damage.

"This is 22 years of me building my business up," said an owner, who described himself as a mechanic, as he walked through the rubble of the garage/workshop.

"It's pretty bad," he added, while noting no insurance was carried.

After doing a quick count, the man estimated that nine vehicles in running condition had been damaged or destroyed, along with a number of snowmobiles.

The property owners declined to comment on the drug seizure.

News/North is not identifying anyone living at the property because of the ongoing police investigation into the drug seizure and the possibility that charges may be laid in connection with that incident.