Police: Unlicensed Palm Bay contractor failed to make Irma repairs

A Palm Bay man was arrested Thursday after police say he didn't possess a contractor license when he was hired to rebuild a fence that Hurricane Irma had damaged, and instead cashed the check for the repairs and failed to finish the work.

Paul Morissette, 66, was hired by an 85-year-old Palm Bay resident to rebuild his fence that had been destroyed  on Sept. 11. Morissette and another man drew up a contract in early September, which stated the resident would pay $3,000 for supplies up front. Then, after the fence was built, the man would pay Morissette another $1,400 for labor, according to Palm Bay police reports. 

Morissette purchased $661.88 worth of supplies, including concrete bags, fence poles and nails, according to reports. He then began the fence project as expected, coming to the resident's home for two weeks to work.

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But then, he stopped showing up, police report. 

The man tried to get in contact with Morissette for a month and a half, but Morissette ignored his calls. That's when the homeowner called the police, according to reports. 

When police met with Morissette in November, he told them he had traveled out of town to help a sick family member, but planned to finish the job. He heard the man had called the police, so he was waiting for them to come speak to him, Morissette told police. He also said he spent the money the man had paid him for supplies, police report. 

After an initial investigation, police discovered Morissette did not have a contracting license. 

He was charged with contracting without a license with an enhancement for doing it during a declared State of Emergency, according to police. 

He is being held on a $2,000 bond. 

Sheets is a breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Sheets at 317-444-3208or tsheets@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @sheets_tess