Surrey Outreach Team engaging community on 135A Street
(PHOTO: Surrey RCMP Superintendent Shawn Gill)
THIS week marks the official launch of the Surrey Outreach Team in the 135A Street area of Surrey. Announced in December, the Surrey Outreach Team is an integrated approach to addressing public safety, health, and quality of life issues in and around 135A Street.
The Surrey Outreach Team is comprised of 12 Surrey RCMP officers who are now in the area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and four Bylaw officers dedicated to the area 10 hours a day. Fraser Health and Emergency Health Services are also actively engaged with the Team and providing their support and services.
A strategic approach is being used to enhance public safety by engaging the public, businesses, and to safely facilitate the work of community partners working in the 135A Street area. This has resulted in hundreds of positive contacts being made whereby continuous support was provided, especially during the recent inclement winter weather. Prior to the official launch of the Team in January, Surrey RCMP officers and City Bylaw officers have been working in the area 24 hours since December 7 to build relationships.
“Though in its’ infancy, the Surrey Outreach Team is committed to an accountable ownership of issues that continue to be a challenge for this part of our city,” says Superintendent Shawn Gill, Surrey RCMP’s Community Services Officer. “By consistently and strategically working together we are enhancing the safety of our residents and businesses as well as community partners in the area.”
The Surrey Outreach Team is currently working out of a mobile command centre on 135A until a temporary office can be constructed and installed. They have recently been provided training in cooperation with Fraser Health, and they are ready to maintain a consistent and supportive presence on 135A Street with the goal of assisting vulnerable people that frequent the area as well as ensuring that others can safely live and operate their businesses. As outlined in the Public Safety Strategy, when vulnerable persons receive support and develop increased capacity for healthy, safe living, this often leads to a reduction in criminal activity and a reduced demand on social services and policing.
“We are changing the way we approach the issues in the 135A area with our new City Centre Response Plan,” says Dr. Terry Waterhouse, Director of Public Safety Strategies for the City of Surrey. “Together with the Surrey RCMP and our community partners we are committed to addressing the issues in this area with tangible, concrete action. The Surrey Outreach Team is an important component of this plan.”
Local businesses and community agencies are encouraged to see the Surrey Outreach Team in the area.
“Businesses in the area of 135A are delighted to see this initiative from the Surrey RCMP and the City of Surrey,” says Mike Nielsen, Director of the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association and local business owner. “The challenges in this area have increased significantly over the past five years and it is great to see the police and city putting resources on the street to engage with people and try to help them instead of simply moving them along.”
“Lookout is thrilled to have a more collaborative and integrated approach along 135A Street with Surrey RCMP and the City of Surrey,” says Shayne Williams, Executive Director for Lookout Society. “As the primary service provider in this area, we know just how essential it is to have a hands on approach, building trust with people in need. Our main goal is to help people secure housing and connect them to resources – we can do this more effectively when there is a better understanding between the vulnerable people we serve and our partners.”
Officer-involved shooting in Surrey
THE Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has deployed investigators to an officer-involved shooting in Surrey.
According to police, at 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, Surrey RCMP were called to the 12000-block of 100th Avenue in Surrey for a report that a female had been stabbed. Police report that upon arrival, an interaction occurred between an officer and a male with a knife. During the course of this interaction the male was shot.
The male was taken to hospital and is in stable condition. The female is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
IIO investigators will be conducting tasks including obtaining physical evidence from the scene, interviewing any civilian witnesses and designating and interviewing officers. Surrey Major Crime is responsible for any concurrent investigation.
The focus of the IIO investigation is to determine if any officer may have committed an offence as a result of the injuries suffered by the male.
Any potential witnesses are asked to call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
31 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine seized at the Aldergrove port of entry
THE Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced this week that it had seized 31 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine at the Commercal Operations of the Aldergrove port of entry on December 11.
The CBSA said that a person entering Canada was referred for a secondary examination. Border services officers (BSOs) examined the vehicle and found a black suitcase. Upon opening the suitcase, BSOs discovered approximately 31 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine. The driver was immediately arrested.
The driver and the narcotics were turned over to the Langley RCMP.
Commercial Operations at the Aldergrove port of entry opened in November 2015. From November 23, 2015, to November 30, 2016, BSOs at the Aldergrove POE processed 44,521 trucks.
CBSA investigation results in criminal charges and seizure of steroids and fentanyl
THE Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Thursday announced criminal charges against three individuals in relation to an anabolic steroid smuggling and distribution ring.
Matthew Allan Anderson of Maple Ridge, Kailea Elizabeth Ridsdale of Pitt Meadows and Brian David John McEathron of Mission have been charged with smuggling and possession of unlawfully imported goods under the Customs Act and importation and possession for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Criminal charges were also laid for the unsafe storage of firearms against McEathron and Anderson. McEathron is also facing a criminal charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl; Anderson for the production of anabolic steroids.
On November 25, 2015, officers from the CBSA Criminal Investigations Section, in the Lower Mainland Area, executed search warrants and arrested Anderson, Ridsdale and McEathron, as a result of an ongoing investigation. This investigation began in March 2014 after border services officers noted multiple shipments containing anabolic steroids and other import controlled substances at the CBSA Vancouver International Mail Centre and Vancouver International Airport – Air Cargo Operations.
An estimated 1,800 capsules – including 321 fentanyl pills – and over 33 kilograms of raw powder (anabolic steroids and prescription drugs) and 22 litres of liquid containing steroids and other import-controlled substances were seized in the investigation.
All three of the accused appeared at the Vancouver Provincial Court on December 20, 2016, and have been released on bail.
The next court appearance is January 20.
“The CBSA conducts investigations of border-related criminal activity and prosecutes offenders to the full extent of the law. The excellent work of our criminal investigators in dismantling this smuggling operation in the Lower Mainland exemplifies the Agency’s commitment to securing our borders and keeping the people of Canada safe,” said Roslyn H. MacVicar, Regional Director General, Pacific Region, CBSA.
If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, contact the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.
No foul play suspected in relation to human remains found in Delta on December 29
DELTA Police said on Wednesday that no foul play was suspected in relation to the human remains that were found in Delta on December 29.
Last week, Delta Police announced on Thursday that a passerby came across human remains in the 10700-block of Nordel Way at approximately 11 a.m. Officers attended the wooded area and confirmed that they were human remains.
The scene was secured and processed by Major Crimes Section.
Police are still awaiting confirmation regarding the identity of the person and say that this could take some time.
No further details available at this time.
Man arrested after male stabbed in Surrey
ON Tuesday (January 3) at about 9:40 p.m., a Surrey R.C.M.P. officer observed a male, who was on a bicycle in the area of 148th Street and Ashby Place, collapse. The officer found the male was suffering from two stab wounds. He was transported to hospital in serious but stable condition.
The male had come from a residence located in the 14700-block of 84A Avenue. Surrey R.C.M.P. General Duty officers attended to the residence, where an argument had occurred between two persons known to each other. A 43-year-old resident of Surrey is presently in custody, and the investigation into this matter is still continuing.
Surrey R.C.M.P. are asking anyone who may have witnessed the altercation between the two males to call the Surrey R.C.M.P. at 604-599-0502 or to call CrimeStoppers.
Human bone found in Pacific Spirit Park near UBC
ON Friday, December 30 at 3 p.m., University RCMP were alerted by citizens walking their family dog in Pacific Spirit Park in the area of Imperial Drive and West 16th Ave, that their dog had emerged from scavenging in the forest with what appeared to be a human bone.
Police attended immediately to recover the bone and conduct a further search of the heavily wooded area still covered in deep snow and pooling water.
Forensic examination of the recovered bone did confirm the bone to be human.
Police are currently conducting an extensive search of the area where the bone was located, although challenged by thick forest underbrush, deep snow and ice.
The origin of the bone is undetermined at this time and the investigation continues with the assistance of the BC Coroner’s office.
University RCMP are asking users of Pacific Spirit Park to immediately report any suspicious circumstances encountered while traveling through the park.