An elderly man swore at Premier Dennis Fentie inside the legislature Tuesday afternoon, smashed the premier’s official portrait and fled the premises.
“Where’s the premier? That’s what I want to know,” said the man, caught on microphone by CHON FM.
“Is he slacking off as usual? I have some questions for him.”
The outburst interrupted the start of committee of the whole around 2 p.m.
“We need security in there,” shouted a legislative aid from the member’s entrance in the basement. A guard hustled inside.
The man fled through the gallery entrance upstairs and smashed the premier’s portrait as he left the building. Guards scurried around the building for the next 10 minutes in search of him.
“We don’t know where the guy went,” one guard said.
Police arrested a 62-year-old Whitehorse man about two blocks from the legislature shortly afterwards. He was taken to hospital to treat a cut hand.
Charges against the man are pending of mischief, damage under $5,000 and causing a disturbance. He has been ordered to stay away from the legislature and avoid contact with the premier and his office.
Police are not releasing the man’s name. He’s to appear in court July 8.
The man was not believed to have been drinking at the time, say police.
Fentie’s photograph is now missing from the lineup of Yukon premiers. It’s being repaired.
Contact John Thompson at johnt@yukon-news.com.