Media Release April 15, 2010 Confessions Obtained in Jamestown Water Tank Incident

Two juveniles have admitted their involvement in the recent incident involving the water tank that services the community of Jamestown.

Michael Boling of the Jamestown-Rio Vista Water & Sewer District reported to the Sheriff’s Office on April 9th that he’d noticed a rope hanging from the ladder of the 200,000 gallon-capacity water tank off the Blue Rim Road west of Green River. Boling told deputies he climbed the ladder of the 25'-tall tank, cut the rope, checked the tank’s hatch, and notified authorities.

Undersheriff Craig Jackson said that Sheriff’s Office Detective Michelle Hall followed up information that led her to two male juveniles, who she interviewed on Tuesday [April 14, 2010].

The boys told Detective Hall they were out four-wheeling in the area on Saturday [April  4th] and went to the tank.  They climbed to the top of the tank’s ladder, attached a rope they had with them on one of the four-wheelers, and began swinging from it.

The boys then looked into the tank from the top hatch, which they said was not locked. Both denied putting anything into the tank, which is consistent with the results of the tests facilitated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Sweetwater County Health Department, which indicated the water is safe to drink.

Jackson noted that there is a distinctive “Keep Out” sign posted at the base of the tank’s ladder.  “In addition to the Jamestown water supply issue, there are serious safety considerations here concerning climbing the ladder and being on top of the tank.  A fall from that height would be likely to result in serious injury or death.”

Jackson said the Sheriff’s Office reports will be forwarded to the Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.

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