A flood caused by an alleged act of vandalism at a senior high-rise in Verona has displaced around 60 residents. The incident unfolded at Demor Towers, where a man is accused of sabotaging the building's sprinkler system, WPXI reports. Around 6 p.m., emergency services responded to the flood, which resulted in an evacuation of the premises, assisted by the Verona Volunteer Fire Department and Lower Valley EMS.
Verona Police Chief Thomas Dessell, in a statement obtained by WTAE, said that a large amount of water was found coming from the seventh floor, which necessitated the evacuation of the residents. Steven Speis, the resident implicated in the incident, was taken into custody and is believed to be facing a myriad of charges, including criminal mischief and tampering with a fire apparatus.
Shelter has been made available at the Verona Volunteer Fire Department for those without an alternative place to stay. The charges, as detailed by Chief Dessell, come from a history of similar incidents involving the suspect, who is said to have previously tampered with fire devices at the facility.
The Red Cross is working to provide accommodations for those residents in need while the cleanup continues. As for the accused, Speis, he denied the allegations before, later admitting to striking the fire sprinkler with a hammer, as stated by authorities.
