The RCMP is hoping that a newly released video showing how close a security guard came to dying when a Squamish gondola was sabotaged in 2020 might encourage someone to come forward.
Major crime investigators released the short surveillance video on Wednesday, the second anniversary of the second cable cutting at the Sea to Sky Gondola on Sept. 14, 2020.
The popular tourist attraction was also targeted on Aug. 10, 2019, by someone who clearly knew the area and had specialized expertise, RCMP Sgt. Chris Manseau said.
“This video shows just how close the security guard came to being injured as he crossed by the tower and came within seconds of being hit by the falling cables,” Manseau said at a Surrey news conference.
“We know there are people out there who have information that could assist police with this investigation. Someone nearly lost their life and police are urging anyone with information to please come forward.”
So far, 70 “persons of interest” have been interviewed and eliminated as suspects, Manseau said.
Kirby Brown, the general manager of the Sea to Sky Gondola, said the company has doubled the reward being offered in the case to $500,000 to encourage tips.
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He said the guard still works for the company and was rattled by his close call.
“He’s a very stoic individual, very strong-willed person. But he was just doing his job that night,” Brown said. “Suddenly, a catastrophe fell on his heels. So it was startling, disturbing. It’s been a couple of years hence, but he’s doing fine. But it sure was an almost life-altering event for him.”
Additional security measures have been put in place to ensure there won’t be another incident, Brown said, adding that the total damage done in the two incidents was $10 million.
While insurance covered the company’s costs, Squamish businesses that rely on tourism took a real hit, he said.
“It has been a rough few years for Squamish and our community has been faced with something never before seen within our industry. It’s an incredibly resilient town,” Brown said. “We have renewed confidence in the RCMP … certainly the work that we’ve seen has been impressive.”
Manseau also released a thermal image of the vandal in the case, though it is difficult to make out any details of the person’s features.
“Our investigators believe the suspect is extremely fit, knew the area well, and had specific knowledge about what tools to use in order to cut the cable in such a way that it would cause catastrophic damage to the gondola while protecting the suspect from harm,” Manseau said.
The 2019 attack happened at 4:30 a.m., while the 2020 attack occurred at 4 a.m.
Manseau said the RCMP’s major crime special projects unit is investigating and pursuing a charge of mischief endangering life.
“Major crime is continuing to advance the investigation with the significant work done by the Squamish RCMP general investigations section since the incidents occurred,” he said.
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