This 45-metre tower west of Oliver was knocked over by vandals in March. One or more individuals cut the guy wires supporting the structure. Photo contributed
Telus says a tool was used by one or more individuals to cut multiple guy wires that brought down a cell tower in Oliver in March.
According to police, that single act resulted in approximately $500,000 in damages.
Telus called the vandalism “unprecedented” because it destroyed a primary wireless site serving the Town of Oliver.
Nobody was injured in the incident.
Telus subsequently installed temporary wireless antennas on the mountain to restore some service. A permanent fix is still underway.
An engineering team has expedited construction of a new permanent replacement tower and anticipate it will be ready sometime in July.
Telus continues to work closely with local RCMP in the investigation.
A 49-year-old Oliver man, identified as Steve Joseph Godbout, has been charged with break and enter and possession of stolen property in relation to a storage shed on site, where the tower was located.
No suspects have been charged or identified in the cell tower vandalism incident.
