Reward doubled to $500K in Sea to Sky Gondola vandalism case
CTV
Two years after the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, B.C., was last targeted by vandals, authorities have announced the reward for helping bring those responsible to justice has doubled to $500,000.
Two years after the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, B.C., was last targeted by vandals, authorities have announced the reward for helping bring those responsible to justice has doubled to $500,000.
The RCMP also announced Wednesday that the investigation has been taken over by its Major Crimes Special Projects Unit, which released a thermal image of a suspect along with video showing that a security guard was nearly injured during the most recent incident in September 2020.
Authorities said the security guard was "within seconds" of being struck by one of the massive cables that hold up the gondolas, and were severed in both acts of vandalism.
Cpl. Chris Manseau said investigators are pursuing a charge of mischief endangering life – a criminal count that can lead to a life sentence – and urged anyone with information on the person or people responsible to come forward.
"We know that there are people out there with information that could assist police with this investigation," Manseau said.
"What's important to remember here is that someone nearly lost their life."
In August 2019, lines at the Sea to Sky Gondola were deliberately cut for the first time, sending the attraction's cable cars crashing to the ground. About 75 staff members were laid off as a result of the attraction being forced to close.
