Togiak Clinic Suffers Shut-Down after Burglary

The community of Togiak suffered a shut-down of their only clinic after damage by burglars ended services. Image-AVEC
The community of Togiak suffered a shut-down of their only clinic after damage by burglars ended services. Image-AVEC

One teen has been arrested and the other has been identified and reported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in connection with the burglary at the Togiak Health Clinic that stopped service there as repairs to the clinic are underway.

18-year-old Brett Pauk was charged with Burglary II, Criminal Mischief I, and Theft IV. A second teen, a 17-year-old was also identified as an accomplice in the break-in and the Dillingham office of the Department of Juvenile Justice has been notified of his involvement.

The two teens allegedly broke into the clinic, stole several items from the clinic and damaged the communications to the Kanakanak hospital in an attempt to cut out the surveillance cameras and hide their involvement. But, they sabotaged their own attempts at anonymity  when they discharged a fire extinguisher in the building, leaving their tracks in the foam. Tracks were also identified outside the building in the snow. It was those shoe prints that led the investigating VPSO directly to their residence.

Once the VPSO tracked the foot prints to the residence, the shoes belonging to the prints were identified and items stolen from the clinic were recovered.

Although basic services at the clinic have been re-established, some of the other services formerly available there are yet to be brought back online as repairmen work to correct the damage. Those services may remain out for several days.