Half a dozen Stanley Cup rioters turn themselves in to Vancouver police
Vancouver police have recommended the first charges in their investigation of the Stanley Cup riot.
Police chief Jim Chu told reporters at a news conference today (June 17) that they have requested charges against one male of arson to property, mischief, unlawful assembly and participation in a riot.
Chu said the suspect, who police have substantial evidence against, has turned himself in.
Half a dozen people have turned themselves in, according to Const. Jana McGuinness, but no other charges have yet been recommended to the Crown.
The details come the same day the Burnaby RCMP announced a 17-year-old male suspect has turned himself in.
In response to questions from reporters about police preparedness for the riot, Chu conceded that “knowing what I know now, there’s many things I would have done differently”.
“If we knew that the riot would occur with the numbers of people that were concentrated near the live site, we would have had more police officers there,” he said.
Police have so far received over 1,800 tips from the public, and thousands of images, according to McGuinness.
Over thirty officers are involved in the post-riot investigation, which also includes regional police forces.
Chu and McGuinness both encouraged other instigators to turn themselves in to assist with the investigation.
“You can wait until we come and find you, because we will find you,” said McGuinness. “It does speed up an investigation, there’s no question, if someone turns themselves in.”
Chu thanked the public for the “outpouring of appreciation” that he and his officers have received.
A police car parked outside the VPD building at Cambie Street and 2nd Avenue was covered in post-it notes with messages of gratitude to police for their role in controlling the chaos that erupted following the Canucks’ Stanley Cup loss.
He also thanked the Good Samaritans who tried to protect people and property from rioters.
“I’m sorry that we couldn’t back you up and get to you earlier,” he said. “I know we have training and we have protective gear, and all of you didn’t. So thank you for trying to protect other people’s property, helping others – what you have done is truly heroic.”
Police are still compiling the reports of damage from retailers that were targeted by rioters.
You can follow Yolande Cole on Twitter at twitter.com/yolandecole.
Comments
2 Comments
Shawn
Jun 18, 2011 at 7:54am
Jim Chu needs to resign. It was his responsibility to provide safety for families attending this event. Instead the lack of security and failure to have proper searches of individuals entering the event, as had been practised during previous events, allowed individuals with ill intent as well as extremely intoxicated people to take over and wreck what was advertised as a family event. We are simply fortunate that it was not worse. Imagine if a true terrorrist group like Al Queda had used the VPD's inattention to stage a truly destructive event. We could be looking at millions dead. Jim Chu is wholly responsible for this and must resign.
R2
Jun 18, 2011 at 3:14pm
Do you remember the Live site at David Lam Park for the Olympics?
The metal detectors and 8 block lineups taking hours to process, it was a real mood kill and I never ventured down there after the first night but I guess it worked.
After this latest debacle I guess that's what it's going to have to come down to in the future....
Thanks alot ya little pukes and turds.