Vandals hit town's emergency HQ

When Constantino Zapantis took control of Clinton’s Emergency Management Agency he understood that at some point his life might be put in danger, but he didn’t think the threats would come from the people he’s trying to help.

Last Tuesday, July 25, Zapantis discovered that the agency’s headquarters on High Street had been broken into and vandalized. Police said the vandal or vandals gained access to the building by kicking in the front door, and scrawled several threats on the walls with black and red spray paint.

On Thursday, Emergency Management Agency member Rich Brown told the Times & Courier that one of the threats blatantly threatened Zapantis.

“One of the threats, written on one of the walls, said, ‘I got a bullet with your name on it, Dino. Die!’” Brown said.

“Yeah, it’s not the nicest feeling, but I’m too adult to let it bother me,” Zapantis said last week. “I really don’t want to comment too much on this while the investigation is still ongoing.”

According to Zapantis, there was extensive damage done to two agency vehicles stored on the property, a 1968 Dodge van and an old box ambulance.

“To be honest, the vehicles that were damaged were the ones that I probably would have gotten rid of,” Zapantis said. “The old antique truck wasn’t touched, maybe because it must have meant something to somebody, but there was a nice big yellow truck target sitting right there and it wasn’t touched.”

Police Chief Mark Laverdure said a state radio and several power packs for the radio appear to be the only things stolen, but no further details were available. Police said that while the vandalism was discovered on a Tuesday, the building had been empty since the beginning of the previous week, giving the culprit ample opportunity to commit the crime.

At its July 18 meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted to appoint Zapantis as the director of the agency instead of Brown, who has served on the agency for 38 years, 18 as director. The decision has sparked some controversy in town.

“I don’t want to add fuel to anyone’s fire,” Zapantis said when asked if he believed the vandalism was linked to the appointment. “I think this whole thing is getting blown way out of proportion. It’s turning into a cluster.”

Brown doubted that anybody within the department would commit such a crime.

As well as the damage to the vehicle, Brown said the agency’s maintenance cabinet was broken into and the trophies that the agency earned by showing up at local parades in the antique vehicles were also vandalized. Brown also said several of the agency’s fire extinguishers were discharged.

On Friday, Laverdure said that if the vandal or vandals responsible for the graffiti and threats were caught, they could face charges of threatening to commit a crime, with that crime being murder. They could also be charged with threatening to commit assault and battery. He also said that it’s unlikely that the town would choose to bring federal charges, despite the emergency management agency’s connection with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

In an attempt to find the silver lining in the wanton destruction, Zapantis said this could lead to serious discussions about finding the agency a new location.

“Maybe this will fuel the fire and help us find a new home for the organization,” Zapantis said. “You know, maybe some place that’s weather tight.”

Back story: Brown out -- emergency agency head replaced.

(Add your comments at the Times & Courier blog. Patrick Brodrick can be reached at 978-365-8044 or pbrodric-at-cnc.com.)