A SUSPECTED tree vandal who caused $22,000 damage to parkland trees in Heatherton was arrested just days after Kingston Council voted to complain to police about delays in apprehending him.
The 21-year-old Heatherton man was charged with criminal damage, theft of a motor car and possession of a weapon and bailed at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court, Thursday 1 December to reappear in March.
But Kingston Council at its 28 November meeting voted to write to police to “ask for an explanation of why they failed to act more promptly and more effectively to protect the safety of members of the community and to prevent the destruction of trees on council land on the Henry Street Trail and adjacent parkland”.
Cr Rosemary West said affected residents had seen – and challenged – the suspect armed with an axe and machete during his three-month vandalism spree, and even knew his name and address. However, despite this information being reported to police they did not act until the man was arrested late November.
Local area commander Inspector Bruce Kitchen, of Kingston CIU, defended police tactics although he said he didn’t want to “add fuel to the fire”.
“Police have apprehended and charged a suspect after preparing a brief of evidence which is necessary in getting a conviction,” he said.
“There are others possibly involved in the incidents and our investigation is continuing.
“Perhaps the issue is one of a lack of communication.”
Dozens of mature trees along the Henry St trail and in Braeside Park were chopped down and mutilated in the three-month spree.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 14 December 2016
