[CMCEmail] CMCEmail Digest, Vol 5, Issue 1

[CMCEmail@Californiamountaineer.com]

Arrest in Trailhead Vandalism Case        
Written by Tom Woods     
Monday, 08 September 2008  
Connections to the Schulman Visitor Center fire have not been established, but
the Inyo Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in connection with the recent
vandalism and burglaries at local trailheads. 

Early Saturday morning in Lone Pine, deputies arrested John Thomas Christiana of
San Francisco in connection with the recent crimes, according to Sheriff Bill
Lutze. 

On Sunday August 24, at least three cars had their windows smashed in at the
South Lake trailhead parking area. Then over Labor Day weekend, officers
started to take reports on windows broken out of cars at the Big Pine Creek
trailhead. Damage reports are still filtering in from Big Pine Creek as victims
call the Sheriff’s Department, but some reports indicate as many as 19 cars
sustained smashed windows. 

The vandalism extended beyond windows in the Big Pine Creek area. Inyo Sheriff
Sergeant Jeff Hollowell says that at least one vehicle owner reported a cut
brake line. There were other reports of cut gas lines. Hollowell also says that
he believes that Christiana was in possession of the same object used to smash
the windows out. 

A DWP cabin above the trailhead was also broken into. Hollowell said that fire
arms and some jewelry from that cabin were found with Christiana when he was
arrested. 

Sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Hollowell 

  

With so many potential victims, Hollowell said that, “this is a big
investigation.” 

Law enforcement across the Eastern Sierra met Friday to discuss possible
connections between acts of vandalism observed locally in recent weeks. No
determination has been made as to the cause of the Schulman fire at this time.
Investigators were still working the site as of Monday afternoon, according to
Nancy Upham with the Forest Service. 

If that fire turns out to be arson, Christiana could end up as a suspect.
Hollowell reports that Christiana was found with containers of gasoline, but he
thought it was possible that Christiana may have been stealing gasoline. 

Christiana was arrested on charges of auto theft, possession of stolen property,
and burglary. 
 

Bill Becher
writing and photography
bb at becher.com
805 444 5273 (c)
www.becher.com



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