VERMILION — A man has been charged with causing over $1 million in damages in a vandalism spree in a rural Alberta town.
Vermilion RCMP say they received a complaint Sunday that a provincial government building and six sheriffs vehicles were damaged.
Officers arrived to find windows shattered in the building and in the vehicles, they said.
Windows in the town's courthouse were also broken and drive-thru display screens at a nearby McDonald's were damaged.
Alberta's Justice Ministry said Monday on social media that the courthouse was closed until further notice as a result of the vandalism. A spokesperson for the ministry did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday.
RCMP Cpl. Brittany Pegg said roughly 30 windows were broken at the courthouse.
"We're still trying to figure out what exactly was used and what wasn't used," Pegg said. "It's some sort of object."
A suspect was located in the town and arrested Monday morning, the officer added.
The overall damage was the most Pegg has seen in one-time in the town, she said, but copper wire thefts reported by nearby oil companies come close in terms of dollar value losses.
"It's on par for what's done out in the oilfield, but not within town limits," Pegg said.
The 23-year-old accused, a resident of Vermilion, faces charges of mischief and break-and-enter and has been remanded into custody.
Vermilion is about 195 kilometres east of Edmonton.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2025.
The Canadian Press
