Over 100 people under investigation for riot: VPD
Posted July 20, 2011 3:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s a slow process when it comes to charging people involved in last month’s Stanley Cup Riot in Downtown Vancouver. So far, nobody has been charged in connection to the riot.
Today was the first time that the Police Board met since the melee.
Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu says currently there are 202 separate incidents are under investigation, involving anywhere between 1 to 300 suspects each.
Currently, 111 people are under investigation for a wide range of riot-related crimes that include: mischief, theft, arson, weapons possessions and assaulting a police officer. Only 37 people have turned themselves into police, 30 men and seven women.
To date, the VPD has received 4,300 email tips. The department is also in the process of reviewing 15,000 hours of video footage, 1,500 images and 3,000 individual video data files.
Chief Chu is confident that eventually several hundred people will eventually be charged. However, he is emphasizing that police want to have all of their evidence before deciding to press any charges. Chu explains the police department doesn’t want want to waste the court’s time and money, so the lawyers and judges dealing with these cases need to have all of the evidence before moving forward.
Meantime, NPA Councillor Suzanne Anton says hopefully the Vancouver Canucks will be in the playoffs again, but she has suggestions on how things should be handled.
“All plans for Stanley Cup playoff celebrations that the City of Vancouver is involved in must be debated and approved by City Council before being implemented.”
She’s also asking that both the provincial government and Vancouver Canucks organization help pay for any parties. She explains “the financial windfall is significant.”
Anyone with photos or video not yet submitted to police is asked to make copies of them and burn them to a CD or DVD and then email them to the VPD.
Tips can be left on the tip-line at 604.717.2541 or with CrimeStoppers at 1.800.222.8477. And for those wanting to turn themselves in should call 778.838.2124 to make arrangements.
