Neighbourhood unites to keep watch on problem property in Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Triangle Park residents met with the city officials and RCMP officers last month to discuss the “nuisance house” in their neighbourhood.

Communications manager of the City of Fort St. John Ryan Harvey says around 70 residents attended the meeting on November 23rd.

Harvey says it was a good opportunity to hear residents’ concerns, figure out what the city can do, and what steps the RCMP is taking.

“The RCMP is using the tools that they have available to them to hopefully see charges and successful court cases against those people involved,” Harvey said.

Rick McGee, a Fort St. John resident who had shots fired through his home in November, says he and his neighbours met with the mayor, chief of police and chief investigator for the RCMP on November 23rd.

“They have stepped up patrols in the area, have special crime units investigating the problem houses in Fort St. John, this one included,” McGee said.

McGee and his neighbours have also been shown how to use the Fort St. John Waste Wise phone app to report all bylaw infractions with pictures.

According to McGee, the city and RCMP can’t directly take back the property from the owner, but they can charge the owner with all bylaw infractions.

McGee said there has been a more significant police presence in the neighbourhood, and they respond within minutes of any call for reports of suspicious activity, vehicles or people.

“I mean, logically, I am satisfied,” McGee said.

He and his family, including five kids, are back in the home while waiting for repairs on the house, which will cost over $15,000 due to the damaged aluminum siding.

“[We are] still living on edge every time we hear a vehicle start-up or hear voices,” McGee admitted.

“We are still looking for another house in the meantime and trying to give our kids the best Christmas we can.”

McGee still has bullet holes through his house after shots were fired around 5:30 a.m. last month. 

The incident led to four people being brought into the Fort St. John RCMP detachment for questioning after reports of gunfire in the area of 112th Avenue on November 2nd.

According to McGee, shots were discharged from his neighbour’s house and went through his dining room wall, hit his games cabinet and the wall above it, passed by the kitchen fridge and went through a picture frame before going into the wall behind it.

McGee said the entire neighbourhood is keeping a “watchful eye” on the property.

“[It’s] a joint effort into ensuring that if any criminals want to frequent [Triangle Park], they will be caught by police immediately and that the current owner will hopefully be held accountable,” McGee said.