Authorities say recent vandalism attacks against Clarkesville City Manager Barbara Kesler appear to be related and may be a result of her job at city hall. They’re asking for your help in solving the crimes.
The first incident occurred last September when Kesler’s car was keyed while parked outside Clarkesville City Hall. Authorities say there were other vehicles in the parking lot at the time of the incident; hers was the only one vandalized. The car sustained $1,400 in damage. The situation escalated last week when Kesler’s car was again vandalized, this time in an open carport outside her home between the late night hours of January 19 and the early morning hours of January 20.
An incident report filed with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office states the passenger side front window of Kesler’s Ford Taurus was broken and gasoline was poured inside her car. Kesler told the responding deputy that nothing was taken from inside the vehicle. She reported that the keys were in it and the doors were unlocked at the time of the incident. A vinegar bottle label was found in the front seat and collected as evidence.
Kesler says the damage to her car during the latest incident was so severe the insurance company totaled it.
She says it’s bad enough she doesn’t have a car, but even worse is the fear of what might have happened. “If they’d set it on fire my gas tank was full, my husband’s gas tank was full and our 500 gallon propane tank was sitting nearby. If that had exploded we would have been hurt, at the very least. It’s a very scary proposition.”
The Kesler’s are beefing up security at their family home, adding new motion sensor lights and security cameras.
Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell agrees there is cause for alarm.”This is the second incident where they stepped up from the first one, so, that’s why we’re treating it very seriously with this incident with them pouring gasoline in the car,” Terrell says. “You know, the fumes in itself is enough but just one small spark could have caused an explosion.”
Sheriff Terrell says his office is investigating whether the attacks are related to Kesler’s job. “That’s kind of where we’re looking at, that it might be related to her job and some interactions she has had with people through that.” He says investigators are reviewing surveillance video from area gas stations taken around the time of the January incident. “The case is not being closed,” Terrell says, “we’re keeping it open and, if we can get a lead and we can make an arrest, we will make an arrest.”
Whoever is found to be responsible could face prison time. Due to the extent of the damage, both crimes are considered felonies and carry possible prison sentences of 1-5 years.
Terrell urges anyone with information about the crimes to please contact the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. “If anybody has any information whatsoever, if they’ve heard somebody talking about it or someone told them a story or just a ‘what if’ type thing, please let us know. You can do it anonymously through our website, you can call here to the Sheriff’s Office, you can call Investigations direct – James Minutello is the investigator – or you can call me on my line.” He adds, “Drop us a letter in the mail with a non-return address…shoot us a message or a text through our phones. Any way to get it (the information) to us would be much, much appreciated.”
Kesler is eager for any help they can get in finding the culprit. She says, “I just want it to stop.”
You can reach the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office by phone at 706-839-0500 or online at www.habershamsheriff.com. The mailing address is 1000 Detention Drive, Clarkesville, GA 30523.
