Sitka police and National Park rangers are looking for a man suspected of vandalizing the Russian Bishop’s House.

Chief Ranger Chad Corey says a passing driver – two Saturdays ago (3-24-12) – reportedly saw a man breaking windows in the historic structure at around 9 in the evening.

Corey says the individual chose an unusual weapon to do the damage.

“His hand. So there was blood left at the scene. That’s one of the things we’re asking the public to look for – possible cuts on the right hand.”

Corey describes the suspect as male, about 6’1”, wearing all-black clothing.

All National Park areas – in Sitka and around the country – occasionally suffer vandalism. Often, it’s natural resources that are damaged. In the case of historic buildings, the losses are sometimes irreplaceable.

That’s the case with the Russian Bishop’s House. The multi-million dollar restoration in the 1980s used as much of the structure’s original material as possible.

Mike Trainor is Sitka National Historical Park’s chief of maintenance.

“The four main panes in the front of the building – it’s all historic glass from when the building was constructed in 1843. One of the interior panes that he broke through is a more modern glass, with some ultraviolet protection. Luckily, when the park service purchased the building from the Russian Orthodox Church, they salvaged all the original glass. So, we had some glass to put back in that’s historic.”

In all, five panes were broken. But that’s five too many as far Becky Latanich is concerned. She’s chief of interpretation in the park. The Russian Bishop’s House has been remarkably free of major vandalism over the twenty-two years it’s been open to the public. She hopes this is an isolated incident.

“I think it’s just sad. People care so much for the park and the downtown landscape and the Russian Bishop’s House. It’s frustrating and sad for the public when they see something they care so much about damaged in what seems to be a senseless manner.”

Sitka police and park officials are soliciting the public’s help in solving the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 747-3245.