23430 replies to this topic

[pontcanna]

 

[pontcanna]

@viccrimestop

 

James Bertram HANEVELD is currently wanted by police for some unanswered warrants. They are for Driving whilst Prohibited, Driving while suspended and Breach of probation.

 

 

If you know where he is hiding you can call Saanich Police or tell us anonymously.

Call 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online www.victoriacrimestoppers.ca
 

File: #2019-22396

 

[pontcanna]

Parking stall dispute leads to violence

Nanaimo

2024-05-22 

File # 2024-15787

The Nanaimo RCMP is investigating a dispute that started as a parking stall then quickly led to bear-spray being deployed and a vehicle window being smashed with a tire iron. The incident occurred at approximately 12:45 PM on Monday May 20, 2024 in the parking lot of Walmart located in the Woodgrove Centre.

Police, Fire and BCEHS responded. Officers attended and located a family consisting of a husband and wife and their four children. The man and his children ranging in ages from one to six, had all been contaminated to some degree by the bear spray. All were treated at the scene by BCEHS but did not need further medical treatment. Investigators spoke with the woman who avoided the spray. She said that she and her husband, and children, were attempting to locate a parking stall for their truck and boat they were trailering. As they were about to park in a stall, they said that they were cut off by a man driving a dark colored SUV that resembled a Hummer.

Both men got out of their respective vehicles and exchanged heated words. The interaction quickly escalated when the driver of the dark colored vehicle produced a can of bear spray and sprayed it at the other man. Some of the spray contaminated his children. The driver who was sprayed, grabbed a tire iron from his vehicle and smashed out a window on the SUV. The other driver then got into his vehicle and drove off. He was last seen driving south on Highway 19A.

The man who produced the bear spray was described as a Caucasian man in his 60’s, grey hair and was wearing a green shirt. No plate was obtained for his vehicle. This was a situation where if cooler heads had prevailed, this dispute would most likely have been resolved without resorting to this level of violence, said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

If anyone has information on this incident or the identity of the man who produced the bear-spray, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345

Released by

R/Cst Gary O'Brien
Media Relations Officer
Nanaimo RCMP

[pontcanna]

VicPD Continues To Respond To Youth Violence

 

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024 

 

Files: #24-17169 & #24-17178 

 

Victoria, BC – For the second weekend in a row, VicPD responded to reports of youth fighting and using pepper spray in the Esquimalt area. 

 

Just before 8:30 pm on Friday, May 17, officers attended the 1100-block of Esquimalt Road after receiving report of a pepper spraying incident. It was determined that the victim, a male youth, was approached by a group of youths that began acting aggressively towards him. The victim tried to walk away but was followed by one of the males from the group who then pepper sprayed the victim in the face and torso. 

 

Officers searched the area and located the suspect nearby. He was arrested then released into the care of his guardian with a future court date. 

 

Later that same night, just after 9:30 pm, Patrol officers received multiple calls regarding a fight occurring amongst a group of approximately 20 to 30 youths in the 1200-block of Esquimalt Road. Officers attended and many of the youths dispersed, were uncooperative with police or provided conflicting accounts of what occurred. No arrests were made, and the remaining youths were either picked up by caregivers or driven home by officers. 

 

No significant injuries were reported but one of the youths was treated by B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics due to being pepper sprayed.  

 

“This marks the fifth reported incident of youth assaults involving pepper spray in one week,” says VicPD Spokesperson Constable Terri Healy. “Some youth in these groups are coming from neighbouring municipalities and causing a disturbance in Esquimalt. In response to this recent uptick, we will be increasing our proactive patrols in the Esquimalt area over the next few weekends.” 

 

If you have any information about these incidents, please call the EComm Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1. 

 

[pontcanna]

Video | Suspects Sought After Youth Pepper Sprayed And Assaulted Downtown

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024

File: #24-16204

Victoria, BC – Investigators have released CCTV footage and are looking for assistance identifying three suspects who pepper sprayed and physically assaulted two youth downtown.

 

Video link: https://vicpd.ca/wp-...t-Video.mp4?_=1

Just before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, Patrol officers responded to multiple reports of an assault in the 600-block of Yates Street. Officers attended and determined that two youth victims had been pepper sprayed and that one of the victims had also been swarmed, pushed to the ground and assaulted. Witnesses nearby intervened to stop the assault, and the suspects left the area before officers arrived. Patrol officers searched the area but were not able to locate the suspects.

One of the victims was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

CCTV footage of the second incident is provided below. Content warning: the video contains graphic content and viewer discretion is advised.

Still images of the first assault and the suspects are included below. Investigators are looking to identify the suspects and speak with the witness who intervened.

 

Still Images Of The First Assault And The Suspects Walking Away.

If you recognize any of these suspects, or have any information about this incident, please call the E-Comm Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1 and reference file number 24-16204. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers.

 

[pontcanna]

Graffiti at local community park sparks police investigation

Sooke

2024-05-23 

File # 2024-1994

Sooke RCMP is investigating after receiving a report of graffiti at Broomhill Community Park.

On May 17, 2024, Sooke RCMP responded to Broomhill Community Park located at 2280 Pyrite Dr in Sooke following a report that a wall had been defaced overnight with purple paint, depicting offensive messaging.

Police would like to remind the public that it is a criminal offence to destroy or damage property.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Sooke RCMP at 250-642-5241.

Released by

Cpl. Alex Bérubé
District Advisory NCO (Media Relations)

[Victoria Watcher]

[pontcanna]

Series of break-ins leave Saanich senior with ‘nearly no furniture’

 

Neighbours stepping in to help after thieves ransacked home while its owner was in hospital

• Times Colonist
• 28 May 2024
•  
• 

ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONISTAnne Tolmie stands in her home, which was repeatedly broken into and ransacked while she was in and out of hospital with pneumonia.

 

Neighbours are stepping in to help after thieves stole valuable antiques and ransacked Anne Tolmie’s home in a series of break-ins this past week while she was in hospital with pneumonia.

 

First a cabinet full of antique china was taken and then the mahogany cabinet itself disappeared, along with vintage hats and fur coats, said Dave Chambers, who runs neighbouring Madrona Farm.

 

The 78-year-old Tolmie, who is from the area’s pioneering Tolmie farming family, said Monday that there is “nearly no furniture left” after what she figures were six separate break-and-enters.

 

The house is at the end of a hidden driveway, and Chambers said whoever has been breaking in might have noticed signs that it was often empty, like the lack of recyclables in the blue bins.

 

Chambers said he couldn’t believe the state of the rest of the interior.“It was absolutely ransacked. Every box, every chest, every drawer was on the floor.”

 

On Monday, a group of people went to the property to help clean up and found the front door and a sliding glass door were open, Chambers said.

Tolmie confirmed it had definitely been locked.

 

“They’d stolen more stuff,” Chambers said. “Basically somebody’s coming in here and ‘mining’ her house.” Saanich police have been notified and have been to the home. 

 

More: https://digitaltimes...281496461411118

 

Edited by pontcanna, 28 May 2024 - 02:15 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Oh, Lord.   That needs a GoFundMe.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ospital-8871949

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 May 2024 - 02:26 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Over one year since the investigation into Greg Martel began, the firm leading the investigation into the flow of money for his business has determined Martel was running a Ponzi scheme.

 

CHEK News first learned that Martel’s company, known as My Mortgage Auction (MMAC) and Shop your Own Mortgage, was put into receivership and PricewaterhouseCoopers had taken control of the assets in May 2023 when real estate agent Rick Horsland emailed in.

 

“I was referred by my chiropractor of all things, and I was told of these high returns on these bridge loans,” said Horsland.

 

__________________________

 

 

Since then, PwC has been investigating the flow of cash in Martel’s business, and filed paperwork on May 21 that says a funds flow analysis indicates Martel was operating a Ponzi scheme.

 

“PwC has conducted a funds flow analysis (the “FFA”) on MMAC during its 5 years of operation and has concluded that investor funds loaned to MMAC for the purpose of funding bridge loans (to be made by MMAC to borrowers) were not used to fund bridge loans, but instead were used for other purposes,” the document filed by PwC says.

 

“The purposes included repaying other investors, funding related companies and funding significant operating expenses. The flow of funds indicates that MMAC operated a Ponzi scheme.”

 

A Ponzi scheme uses investor money to pay earlier investors with the false sense that it is offering higher-than-normal returns.

 

________________________

 

 

When the issue first came to light, Martel travelled to Thailand then was deported from Thailand and went to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the documents say. His current whereabouts is unknown. CHEK News was unable to reach Martel.

 

________________________

 

 

PwC says over the five years it operated, Martel spent at minimum $3.1 million on vehicles, $1.1 million for rent on multiple homes, $261,000 on restaurant meals and events, $200,000 on watches and jewelry, $150,000 on recreation, $59,000 on fitness and sports, and $50,000 on wine and vineyard events.

 

Additionally, the report shows that Martel has declared $9.3 million in secured loans and $293.6 million in unsecured loans, however, PwC has only been able to prove $7.9 million in secured loans.

 

 

 

https://www.cheknews...scheme-1206436/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 May 2024 - 02:30 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A T’Sou-ke woman on trial for obstructing Victoria police officers trying to arrest another person believed to have thrown water on the chief of police told court Monday she is representing not just herself, but other Indigenous people who will come after her.

 

xʷ is xʷ čaa, pronounced wis-waa-cha, who is also known as Kati George-Jim, faces a charge of obstruction in relation to a Sept. 18, 2021 incident at the B.C. legislature. Her arrest followed a march seeking justice for Chantel Moore, a 26-year-old Tla-o-qui-aht woman shot to death by New Brunswick police in 2020. VicPD Chief Del Manak was invited to the memorial by Moore’s mother and was honoured in a blanket ceremony.

 

After the ceremony, Manak, who was not in uniform, was approached by a woman who poured liquid on him from behind.

 

 

___________________

 

Representing herself in Victoria provincial court Monday, George-Jim was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie with the words: “Canada is an illegal occupation built on genocide.” She introduced herself with her given name, xʷ is xʷ čaa.

 

“I am of this land,” she said. “These are my homelands. This name derives its meaning, its purpose and its history from these lands.”

 

George-Jim intends to mount an argument against the charge based on Charter issues and her rights as an Indigenous person.

 

“If people don’t bring these things up, the system will be continuously working for stealing land and removing Native people from it to weaken the ability for Native people to continue living on their homeland,” she said in a courtroom filled with her supporters.

 

George-Jim and her supporters remained sitting, instead of standing as is custom in court, when provincial court Judge Lisa Mrozinski entered and exited the room.

 

At times during George-Jim’s cross examination of police witnesses, Mrozinski said she couldn’t see the relevance of her line of questioning and asked her to remain on topic.

The atmosphere turned briefly tense when George-Jim dropped a question, saying, “Never mind.”

 

Mrozinski asked her to remain civil.

 

“Civil? As a Native person you’re asking me to be civil? In this court where I’m being criminalized?” George-Jim responded.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...e-chief-8875455

[max.bravo]

 

https://bc-cb.rcmp-g...contentId=84161

Man arrested and charged with child exploitation offences after joint investigation with US Law Enforcement

B.C., West Shore, Integrated Child Exploitation Team

2024-05-27 12:53 PDT

File # 2023-16907

 A Langford man has been arrested and charged with child exploitation offences following a joint proactive investigation by the BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE), Homeland Security Investigations and West Shore RCMP.

In September 2023, the British Columbia Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE) received information from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) regarding a suspect believed to be in British Columbia allegedly participating in child exploitation offences on a social media application. BC ICE immediately launched an investigation and identified a male suspect who allegedly lured three female youth victims online and exploited them, while making child sexual abuse material of them and making the media available on the internet for others to see.

In January 2024, BC ICE and West Shore RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence in Langford and a male suspect was arrested. In May 2024, the BC Prosecution Service approved seven charges under the Criminal Code against Jae Alexander Hegan, a 31-year-old man from the Langford area:

• One count of making or publishing child **rnography, contrary to section 163.1(2)
• One count of making child **rnography available, contrary to section 163.1(3)
• One count of possession of child **rnography, contrary to section 163.1(4)
• One count of accessing child **rnography, contrary to section 163.1(4.1)
• One count of making sexually explicit material available to a person under the age of 16, contrary to section 171.1(1)(b)
• Two counts of child luring, contrary to section 172.1(1)(b)

Following his arrest, Hegan was released on a number of protective conditions, including those governing his access to the internet and children under the age of 16.

"Online child exploitation poses a grave threat to the well-being of our youth, and this case highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating these crimes. We recognize the dedication and collaboration investigative units across Canada and the United States have, to work tirelessly together to identify, arrest and charge online predators, states Staff Sergeant Natalie Davis of BC ICE. "Predators are online and accessing our youth at home, in the privacy of their bedrooms. It is important for adults to have conversations with the youths in their lives about how to stay safe online.

The investigation remains ongoing. No further information will be released as the matter is now before the court.

 

[pontcanna]

Sex assault trial begins in Nanaimo for junior hockey league player

May 28, 2024 

A BC Supreme Court trial has begun at the Nanaimo courthouse for a junior hockey player accused of sexual assault.

 

Kenneth Boychuk, who is now 19, was playing with the VIJHL Nanaimo Buccaneers when he was accused of sexually assaulting a girl in her home.

The teenage girl had watched Boychuk play for the Buccaneers before coming across his profile on a dating app. They both swiped right and were soon chatting on Snapchat.

On January 31, 2023, she told Boychuk she was home alone. According to the girl, he later surprised her when he showed up at her door.

The girl says Boychuck brushed by her, pulled her to her room and sexually assaulted her. She testified he slapped her and punched her to the point that she blacked out and was left with bruising. She says she did not consent to any of the sexual activity, and she “bawled her eyes out after he left.”

When she saw Boychuk play at a hockey game a few days later, prompted by friends, she brought it to the team’s attention.

 

 

“She came to us after a game. I had a conversation with her immediately. Made it very clear to her sorry to hear this is what happened in your eyes,” said Tali Campbell, who owned the Nanaimo Buccaneers at the time. “I’d go speak with the RCMP.”

She then filed a complaint with Nanaimo RCMP.  Boychuck was eventually traded to the Kerry Park Islanders in January 2024. 

Boychuk has pleaded not guilty - trial is expected to last up to five days.

 

More: https://www.cheknews...player-1206659/

[max.bravo]

That is very brazen.

[Victoria Watcher]

A day after financial investigators revealed that a disgraced Victoria businessman had bilked, at minimum, $317 million from investors between 2018 and 2023, a financial crime expert is calling it one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in Canadian history.

 

“For a Canadian Ponzi scheme, it’s pretty substantial,” said Christian Leuprecht, a financial crime expert and professor with Queen’s University and Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...scheme-1206615/

[Mike K.]

 

Video | Suspects Sought After Youth Pepper Sprayed And Assaulted Downtown

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024

File: #24-16204

Victoria, BC – Investigators have released CCTV footage and are looking for assistance identifying three suspects who pepper sprayed and physically assaulted two youth downtown.

 

Video link: https://vicpd.ca/wp-...t-Video.mp4?_=1

Just before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, Patrol officers responded to multiple reports of an assault in the 600-block of Yates Street. Officers attended and determined that two youth victims had been pepper sprayed and that one of the victims had also been swarmed, pushed to the ground and assaulted. Witnesses nearby intervened to stop the assault, and the suspects left the area before officers arrived. Patrol officers searched the area but were not able to locate the suspects.

One of the victims was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

CCTV footage of the second incident is provided below. Content warning: the video contains graphic content and viewer discretion is advised.

Still images of the first assault and the suspects are included below. Investigators are looking to identify the suspects and speak with the witness who intervened.

 

Screenshot 2024-05-24 16.40.58.png
Still Images Of The First Assault And The Suspects Walking Away.

If you recognize any of these suspects, or have any information about this incident, please call the E-Comm Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1 and reference file number 24-16204. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers.

 

 

At least two of the three have been identified. Now it's up to police to track them down. It shouldn't be too hard.

[pontcanna]

Sooke man to be extradited to U.S. on charges of sexually assaulting stepdaughter

Updated May 29, 2024 

A British Columbia man will be extradited to the United States, where he faces a possible life sentence if convicted of charges that he repeatedly sexually assaulted his stepdaughter, after losing his appeal of the extradition order Tuesday.

The accused, who is identified in court documents as J.L., has been sought by authorities in Utah for years after a warrant for his arrest was issued in June 2015.

The man is charged with continuously sexually assaulting his stepdaughter from June 2012 to June 2014, when the girl was 12 to 14 years old.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in St. George, Utah, where J.L. lived with the stepdaughter and her mother, to whom he was married at the time.

The accused left Utah the same day that the allegations were reported to police, prompting U.S. authorities to charge that he "fled" to Canada to escape repercussions, according to affidavits provided to the court.

He testified that he returned to Canada and, after freely travelling to several countries on his Canadian passport, settled in with his parents in Sooke, B.C., where he obtained a B.C. driver's licence.

B.C. Appeal Court Justice Sunni Stromberg-Stein upheld the minister's extradition decision, finding no merit to the claims that the delay in the proceedings or the threat of a lengthy prison sentence were contrary to Canadian principles of justice.

"The minister found the appellant’s likely U.S. sentence would be between 41.33 years to life imprisonment, compared to a likely sentence in Canada of six to nine years' imprisonment." Stromberg-Stein summarized in her decision: 

 

https://www.canlii.o...024bcca201.html

 

"The minister concluded that the disparity was not so great 'as to tip the balance in favour of concluding that surrender would be unjust or oppressive or shock the Canadian conscience.'"

 

More: https://bc.ctvnews.c...ghter-1.6905530

[lanforod]

 

 

"The minister found the appellant’s likely U.S. sentence would be between 41.33 years to life imprisonment, compared to a likely sentence in Canada of six to nine years' imprisonment." Stromberg-Stein summarized in her decision: 

 

Yeah... this is a problem. Our prison sentencing isn't much of a deterent for many crimes. In Canada, he'd be out in 2.

[max.bravo]

Very true. It’s almost lax enough to make people start thinking about vigilante justice, especially in these heinous type of crimes.

If someone was abusing your daughter, turning them over to police means they’d get maybe a 2-3 years in prison, and they’d be able to reoffend. But if you dished out some “heat of the moment” justice yourself, you’d probably only spend 5 years in prison for your crime, and the offender wouldn’t be able to reoffend. It’s almost logical, in some sense. (The above is purely hypothetical, I have never considered this as I myself am a pacifist who would never hurt anyone and I believe in the rule of law).

Edited by max.bravo, 29 May 2024 - 01:12 PM.

[pontcanna]

‘I told him to stop:’ man on trial for alleged violent sexual assault in Nanaimo

 

...After saying (accused Kenneth Boychuk) sent multiple pictures of his face to her while sitting in his car, the complainant told court Boychuck showed up at her home while she was there alone.

 

At that point she believes he said “You know why I’m here.” She said he grabbed her arm, took her to her downstairs bedroom, and pushed her on the bed.

“He started kissing me and then he just started hitting me and he was like ‘Do you like that?’ and I said ‘No.’” She reported seeing “black and stars” and was “out of it.”

The complainant told the Nanaimo Mountie she awoke undressed and with Boychuk on top of her, penetrating her vaginally.

“I was just screaming and crying. I was saying ‘Stop this, get off of me!’ She said he hit her ”so many times” on both sides of her face and she was knocked out again.

The woman estimated the incident lasted between 30 and 60 minutes, but was unsure of the exact duration.

Pictures following the statement at the woman’s home were taken by the investigating officer, in which bruises throughout her body were apparent.

The complainant said Boychuk wasn’t wearing a condom and the non-consensual encounter included forced anal and oral penetration.

Before the complainant left, she reported rejecting his pleas for oral sex. “He said fine and he hit me again, he spat in my face.”

“I was like screaming and crying with how much pain I was in.”

Boychuk was arrested at his billet home without incident following the complainant’s statement to police.

While on the stand sitting about 30 feet from her alleged attacker, she told court she was originally excited about the idea of getting to know Boychuk.

“He seemed really kind, we talked about going out for Valentine’s Day and I was very excited.”

She was comforted in court by a social support worker.

Boychuck has one year of junior hockey eligibility remaining.

The accused is from Edmonton, Alberta and is represented by Edmonton-based defence attorney Rory Ziv.

 

More: https://nanaimonewsn...ult-in-nanaimo/