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Vancouver’s mayor and police chief stated that extra must be performed to handle gaps in B.C.’s felony justice and public well being techniques
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Vancouver police have introduced prices in opposition to a person they allege stabbed a stranger and threatened 4 others in a string of incidents, resulting in a flurry 911 calls throughout downtown Wednesday.
From Monday to Wednesday, there have been seven stranger assaults, prompting Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim to carry a press convention with Chief Constable Adam Palmer.
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Kent Douglas Meades, 46, has been charged with assault with a weapon, assault and uttering threats.
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Neades was launched from Fraser Regional Correctional Centre six days in the past, after serving a jail sentence for uttering threats in opposition to his members of the family and federal politicians. He was to be on probation, however didn’t report back to his Surrey probation officer the morning of the assaults, police allege.
Palmer stated that in line with the arresting officers, Neades appeared to have psychological well being issues.
The violent disturbances started at 8:40 a.m. when a person reported being attacked by a stranger whereas strolling close to Seymour and West Cordova streets. Minutes later, a 911 caller reported a person had entered a espresso store close to Harbour Centre and was concerned in a disturbance that resulted in a glass window breaking and prospects inside being scared for his or her security.
Two hours later, Palmer stated a person strolling close to Major and Prior streets “was chased by a stranger who lunged at him with a knife and was yelling at him.” The meant sufferer ran away.
Then a 61-year-old man was stabbed after a 911 caller reported {that a} suspect was chasing folks round with a knife within the 800-block of Cambie Road, between Robson and Smithe streets. The sufferer has since been launched from hospital.
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“We nonetheless suppose its potential that different folks might have encountered this fellow and maybe are victims of a criminal offense,” Palmer stated. “Shortly after he was arrested, we discovered that the suspect was concerned in a further assault, which continues to be beneath investigation.”
That very same morning, one other suspect was arrested in an unrelated incident in East Vancouver, the place a number of 911 calls reported a person waving a knife round on the nook of Clark and Hastings avenue.
Abolfazi Amini, 36, has been charged with weapons and assault offences. He’s at the moment in police custody.
On Monday, Vancouver police issued a public warning after a girl in her 50s was attacked by a stranger in Stanley Park. At 10:45 a.m. on March 18, a girl referred to as 911 to report that she had been attacked whereas strolling on Lees Path simply north of Misplaced Lagoon.
Whereas officers, together with members of the division’s mounted and canine models, searched the realm for the suspect, the individual was not discovered.
“We’re within the early phases of this investigation, and there’s some particulars we’re unable to share,” police stated Monday.
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Palmer and Sim stated that extra must be performed to handle what they are saying are gaps in B.C.’s felony justice and public well being techniques that go away persistent offenders with “excessive” psychological well being signs out on the streets.
“Individuals strolling across the neighborhood who’ve psychological well being points, that’s not the only real accountability of the police — holding somebody in custody, that’s as much as Crown counsel and the judicial system,” Palmer stated.
Whereas Sim stood by his marketing campaign promise to rent 100 extra law enforcement officials and extra psychological well being professionals as a option to clamp down on crime within the metropolis, he stated the “revolving door” of persistent offenders must be quelled by bail reform applied at a federal stage.
“We offer instruments to the Vancouver Police Division they usually work extremely arduous to make our streets protected, after which, folks (charged with crimes) are then launched into the streets. It’s difficult — it looks like we’re losing loads of time.”
Palmer stated Vancouver police have noticed a lower in early 2024 of the variety of critical assaults occurring throughout the town in comparison with final 12 months. He attributed the decline to Sim and his ABC Occasion council majority’s “correct” funding of the Vancouver Police Division, together with the hiring 100 extra officers.
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“It has given us extra instruments to fight crime and tackle essential public questions of safety,” Palmer stated.
sgrochowski@postmedia.com
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