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“We were contacted after Dal security were alerted to the break-in,” says Constable Brian Palmeter, public information officer for the Halifax Regional Police. “A 19-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody. After verifying his identity, he was released and will appear in court October 19th.” He will likely face charges of break and enter and property damage.
Police were called to the Hicks at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Dal security covered all exits to the building until police arrived.
The damage was mostly limited to the building's third floor. Fire extinguishers were sprayed throughout the floor and in the stairways, the window panes in two doors were smashed and an alarm bell connected to the fire alarm system was ripped off the wall.
“The material in the fire extinguishers was a general MSDS for extinguishers,” says Ray Ilson, Dalhousie's director of safety. “The powder is an irritant, but not a hazard.”
The powder has been cleaned as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
While there was no damage to any individual offices, those who work on the third floor are asked to stay away from the area until the hallways have been fully cleaned. In addition, the building's elevator will be inoperative until further notice.
"This is just senseless damage to university property," says Mike Burns, Dal's security chief. "It's frustrating to happen during orientation when everything else is so positive. It takes away from the good events that are going on."
Mr. Burns pays tribute to the Dal student who called security (494-4109 for emergencies or 494-6400 for security) after hearing glass smashing and other strange noises inside the building. "We do depend on help from the community to keep us all safe," he adds.