BROOKLYN — A tree at the center of a 2023 controversy has been cut down in Brooklyn. This past Tuesday, August 5, the Siberian Elm — at more than 100 feet tall — was removed from its longstanding home in the 100 block of Hotel Street in the center of the village.

The tree had been growing into a building, affecting two businesses, and had been deemed “dangerous” by village officials. In February 2023, one of the effected business owners, Paul Douglas, having thought a tree removal service was on site to cut down the tree from his property, threatened to shoot someone. Witnesses said he fired a rifle in the air. The tree service was there to cut down a nearby tree. 

Because it was an election day and a SWAT response was required, he was arrested and charged with multiple crimes. The situation forced the village to shut down the election at the original polling place and move to a new location for the rest of the day.

In Green County court, Douglas was later found guilty of making terrorist threats with a dangerous weapon and second-degree endangering safety with a dangerous weapon.

With tensions mounting between Douglas and the other business owner, which included a civil suit, Green County Judge Jane Bucher ruled last month that Douglas had to pay for the tree’s removal.

— Adam Krebs