More Vancouver riot charges announced
The Vancouver Police Department’s Integrated Riot Investigation Team (IRIT) has recommended to Crown Counsel 52 additional charges against 20 more suspected rioters. The charges stem from June 15’s post-Stanley Cup finals riot that devastated pasts of the city.
To date, the IRIT has forwarded 215 charges on 80 individuals.
“It’s been six months since the riot, and our efforts haven’t let up. I can assure the public that as we hold a further 20 accountable today, my team is hard at work preparing a third round of charges on even more rioters,” said Inspector Les Yeo.
My message to rioters who think they have gotten away with their crime spree: “We’re not backing off; more arrests and more charges are just around the corner.”
Sixteen men and four women are among the suspected rioters. The average age is 19, with the ages ranging from 15 to 27. Six of the 20 are under 18 years of age. While most of the suspects are from the Vancouver area (20 percent are from each Surrey and Burnaby and 5 percent are from Vancouver), there is one suspect from Lethbridge, Alberta and one from Blaine, Washington. The remaining are from other parts of British Columbia.
The IRIT has released examples of the second round of charges recommended, including:
A 24 year old man from Blaine, Washington:
Earlier in the day a 24 year old man came to downtown Vancouver to watch the hockey game with his friends. Once the game ended, and following an afternoon of drinking, the accused walked around the downtown core and watched the riotous crowd. Just after 10:00 p.m. he found himself in front of a store being looted in the 700 block of Granville St. Like many others, the accused broke into the store and stole a number of items. Unlike many others that night, this rioter allegedly had his surname emblazoned across his back on a hockey jersey.
For his role on June 15th, charges of Participating in a Riot, Mischief and BNE are being recommended to Crown. The accused has no criminal record.
LOCATION
700 block of Granville St.
CHARGES
Participating in a riot
Mischief
BNE
A 17 year old woman from Surrey:
Charges of Participating in a Riot, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Assaulting a Police Officer and Obstructing a Police Officer are being recommended against a 17 year old woman from Surrey, B.C. Just after 7:30 p.m. in the area of Georgia and Homer Streets, police officers were keeping the crowd at bay as paramedics were treating an unconscious man. As they were doing so, bottles and debris were being thrown at them by the crowd. One particular woman refused to go around and opted to go through the area where the patient was being treated. After being warned numerous times the woman persisted and punched a police officer in the face. While being taken into custody, she spat at the member and kicked him in his leg. When another police officer came to assist, the combative rioter bit down on the second police officer’s arm, breaking skin. The accused is known to police, but has no criminal record.
LOCATION
Georgia and Homer St.
CHARGES
Participating in a riot
Assault causing bodily harm
Assaulting a police officer
Obstructing a police officer
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