Colville Lake, N.W.T., man wreaks havoc in community

Some people in Colville Lake, N.W.T., are trying to get the police to help them with a man they say is out of control.

People say that in the last two days, the man has burned down a small building, toppled gravestones and has broken windows at the church.

They say he appears to be either mentally ill or on some kind of drug.

The community has no RCMP detachment. While police have received several calls from the community about the man, no officers aregoing to the community yet.

RCMP Staff Sergeant Wayne Norris says Colville Lake is policed by members fromthe Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., detachment.

"The information that they have is that the individual is, I guess, being a nuisance to some community members, and that at this point in time there is no issue in regards to public safety. In regards to the fire, there's no charges or evidence at this time that somebody committed arson," said Norris.

Norris says it costs about $10,000 to charter a plane into Colville Lake. He says the RCMP has to be careful to spend that kind of money only when the situation warrants it.

Meanwhile, people in the community say the man is holed up in a relatives home. Black smoke is coming from the chimney and they're worried he's burning some of the contents of the house.

About 130 people live in the community.