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Officers from the Westport Police Department were dispatched to a local home at approximately 10 p.m. on July 13, when a homeowner reported that chemicals had been sprayed in her backyard from over her property fence line.
Police said that the resident arrived home and smelled a strong odor of a chemical on her property. Further investigation found an oily film that was on her garden plants and her vegetable garden plants. Additionally, two pieces of her wooden fence had been damaged.
Crews from the Westport Fire Department were called to the scene to assist with the investigation, and determined that the substance on the vegetables was “toxic” in nature, which could pose a health threat to people and animals that come into contact with it.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the area and spotted a suspect walking from a Sterling Drive residence toward the victim’s home. He then used a nozzle that was attached to a backpack sprayer to spread the unknown liquid onto the property for several minutes.
Additional footage saw the suspect push the nozzle through the broken part of the fence and sprayed directly onto the plants. He then returned to Sterling Drive.
Police said that they were able to track down the suspect, Sterling Drive resident John Borg III, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Wednesday, Sept. 12, Borg was arrested at his Sterling Drive home and charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing.
Following his arraignment, Borg was released on $10,000 bond and is due to appear in Norwalk Justice Court on Wednesday to answer the charges.
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