Exactly a month after the St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church was ransacked, the Oceanside RCMP has made an arrest in relation to the overnight break-and-enter.
In a news release on Thursday, Oceanside RCMP announced officers had arrested a 25-year-old Qualicum Beach man in connection with the break-in. Cpl. Jesse Foreman said in the release that forensic evidence was located at the crime scene that identified the man.
Sometime between the evening of July 9 and the morning of July 10, the Ukrainian church at Columbia Beach was broken into and ransacked. Oceanside RCMP and church members said furniture and religious items were strewn about.
Vic Blasco, a member of the church, told the Parksville-Qualicum Beach News not one corner of the church was left untouched in the break-in.
At the time, police said the suspect gained access through a side window.
The suspect was in court in Nanaimo on Aug 10. He is set to reappear at court on Aug. 22.
He was charged with possession of both a controlled substance and break-and-entry tools. He was released by a judge on several conditions and will be monitored by Oceanside RCMP leading up to his next court date.