Hamilton police discover holes, tunnels in park connecting encampments to hidden generator
Man arrested for digging the holes, as well as possessing large amounts of fentanyl, say police
Hamilton police have discovered a series of tunnels and holes in a lower city park that they say encampment residents were using to run extension cords to power sources.
Police said they were patrolling encampments in Gage Park Tuesday when they discovered a hole nearly two metres deep.
Officers then uncovered tunnels with extension cords and other electrical wiring running through them, police said in a news release Wednesday.
"Powering all of this was a generator that had been dug into another hole and covered up for concealment," said police.
The generator was plugged into a city light pole to draw power, police said.
A man was arrested after a brief foot chase and charged with mischief over $5,000, fail to comply to a probation order and possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and hydromorphone, the statement said.
The tents in the area were "relocated" for safety reasons, police said. CBC Hamilton asked police where the tents were moved to but did not receive a response before publication.
The area will be fenced off until the city repairs the hole and tunnels, they said.
The discovery comes as the city expands its shelter system in an attempt to reduce encampments in parks and provide more indoor options during winter.
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