CENTERVILLE, PA—Markers scrawled on the walls, cash boxes spray painted, refrigerator doors left hanging open, parts of truck bay No. 4 painted orange: The scene at the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department on Monday was a mess, according to Assistant Chief Pete Hackett.
“It’s cosmetic mostly,” Hackett said of the damage. While extensive, he added, the vandalism would not affect the department’s ability to respond to emergencies.
Jason Aaron Kennelley, 42, was charged with four felonies as a result of the incident and was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Amy Nicols.
Firefighters discovered the Titusville-area resident in the fire hall early Monday afternoon, according to Hackett.
The criminal complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police charges that Kennelley broke into the building and tampered with various pieces of equipment, including fire apparatus, radios and a defibrillator.
If “he was monkeying with that,” Hackett said of the shock-providing defibrillator, it was fortunate Kennelley was discovered when he was.
Kennelley’s trespassing ranged throughout the fire hall, state police charged, including several squad bays, an office, a kitchen and the recreation hall.
Kennelley faces felony charges for burglary, criminal trespass — breaking into structure, criminal mischief — tampering with property, and criminal trespass — entering structure.
He remains in Crawford County jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.
The coronavirus mitigation efforts that have put a moratorium on large gatherings for months are likely to compound the effects of the incident, according to Hackett.
“It’s just at the time that fundraising’s real hard to do,” he said. “The last thing we need is some idiot coming in and messing (stuff) up.”
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