Utah Orthodox Church Hit With Second Illegal Dumping Incident This Year

👉 Courtesy: Orthochristian.com, West Jordan, Utah, November 11, 2024

🚚 Security cameras at St. George Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) in West Jordan, Utah, captured footage of a suspect illegally dumping construction debris in their parking lot, marking the second such incident at the church this year.

The pile of trash was found on Tuesday, November 5, when parishioners began arriving for the All-Night Vigil for the feast of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

“After the service, we sat down and looked at the security cameras and were really surprised to find out it had just happened a half an hour earlier,” said Archpriest Michael van Opstall, who helped establish the church in 2014.

Clear footage shows a driver operating what appears to be a white F-350 truck with a dumpster trailer, using the equipment to unload substantial amounts of construction waste. The West Jordan Police Department has launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

The church, now facing unexpected cleanup costs, has had to divert its funds from intended purposes.

Rather than viewing it as a targeted attack against the church, Fr. Michael believes it was simply someone trying to avoid dumping fees.

When asked what he would say to the perpetrator, the priest responded simply: “Oh, I don’t know that I have any message other than please don’t do it again, and take responsibility.”

The West Jordan Police Department is requesting public assistance in identifying the suspect. They encourage anyone with relevant information about the incident to contact their department.