ICBC gives advice as Lower Mainland drivers facing challenging road conditions

13 February 2019

WITH the latest storm to hit the Lower Mainland, road conditions continue to be challenging across the region, said ICBC on Wednesday.

Crashes are at an all-time high in B.C. and during the winter months, crashes reach their highest point of the year. In the Lower Mainland, 150 casualty crashes occur in February due to driving too fast for the conditions or road / weather conditions.

During these winter road conditions, ICBC is urging drivers to do their part to prevent crashes by adjusting their driving and properly equipping their vehicle for the road conditions.

In bad weather, slow down, increase your following distance and allow extra travel time.

Top Drive Smart tips:

Ice and snow can hit unexpectedly so make sure your tires are rated for the conditions you’re driving in. Check your tire pressure regularly – pressure drops in cold weather and overinflated tires can reduce gripping.
Clear off any snow that’s built up on your vehicle before driving including headlights, wheel wells and external sensors if you have a collision warning system.
Consider using your headlights and taillights whenever weather is poor and visibility is reduced – not only at night – to help you see ahead and be seen by other drivers. Keep in mind that daytime running lights usually don’t activate your taillights.
When severe winter weather hits, consider alternatives – take public transit if possible, carpool with a confident driver whose vehicle is equipped for the conditions, take a taxi, work from home or at least wait until the road crews have cleared major roads. Sometimes the best option is to leave the car at home.
Be aware of black ice when temperatures near freezing. If you notice ice build-up on your windshield, there’s likely black ice on the road. Black ice is commonly found in shaded areas, bridges, overpasses and intersections. Slow down and increase your following distance.
In poor weather, use extreme caution around snow plows. Maintain a safe following distance and don’t pass them – it’s not safe. These vehicles may be equipped with a wing blade on either of its sides which may not be visible due to the snow it sprays.

For detailed tips on how to drive in winter weather, visit icbc.com or ShiftIntoWinter.ca.

BC Government reaffirms commitment to protecting freedom of expression

13 February 2019

Legislation is key to protecting and advancing freedom of speech and expression

SAFEGUARDS to protect British Columbians’ freedom of speech and expression have been reintroduced with proposed legislation.

David Eby, Attorney General, tabled the protection of public participation act, which will protect people from strategic lawsuits against public participation, known as SLAPPs, that limit or stifle criticism or opposition on matters of public interest by imposing exhaustive and potentially costly legal actions. The legislation was first introduced in May 2018.

“This bill reflects what we’ve heard from many British Columbians, including several leading legal figures,” said Eby. “They’ve told us that this legislation is key to protecting and advancing freedom of speech and expression in our province. Our government is listening and we are committed to protecting these freedoms.”

In 2001, British Columbia was the first jurisdiction in Canada to enact this kind of legislation. It was repealed the same year. This new legislation reflects successful legislation in Ontario and is a fairer, more effective legislative model than B.C.’s previous legislation.

If passed, the act will apply to lawsuits started on or after May 15, 2018, when the legislation was first introduced.

New law to safeguard freedom of expression: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018AG0032-000918

New Westminster Police Chief Dave Jones selected to head Metro Vancouver Transit Police

13 February 2019

CRIME Chief Constable Dave Jones — NWPD Chief Constable Dave Jones

THE Board of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police announced on Wednesday that they have selected the current Chief Constable of the New Westminster Police Department, Dave Jones, as the new Chief Officer.

“We are pleased to welcome Chief Officer Dave Jones to the Metro Vancouver Transit Police. Chief Jones has deep roots in the community and a wealth of experience at local, provincial and national levels of police leadership. The Transit Police is a dynamic organization, operating in a growing region. We are confident that Chief Jones will lead our organization from strength-to-strength, ensuring we stay at the forefront of public service and safety,” Police Board Chair Mark Reder said.

“With more than 30 years experience serving the New Westminster Police Department, we are pleased to welcome Chief Officer Dave Jones to the TransLink Enterprise,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “As we see every day, the Transit Police provide an invaluable service to the public and Metro Vancouver is fortunate to have the only police force in Canada dedicated to serving our customers and employees along the transit system. We look forward to working with Chief Officer Jones and thank Interim Chief Barry Kross for his steadfast commitment to public safety and security and for continuing to be a transformational force behind the Transit Police.”

“I am extremely humbled, honoured and excited to be given the opportunity to lead the Metro Vancouver Transit Police as their new Chief Officer,” said Jones. “I’d like to extend my thanks to Interim Chief Barry Kross for the great work he has done. I look forward to working hard to further Transit Police and TransLink’s commitment to safety for everyone who uses the transit system.”

Jones has been a member of the New Westminster Police Department since 1986 and in that time has had an exemplary career. He has worked in many different areas of the department and participated in numerous major projects, including the downtown initiative that dealt with an influx of crack cocaine dealers in the late 1990’s. Jones was also integral in the creation of the Integrated Service Team (IST) model that is still in effect today that deals collectively with community and policing issues. He holds a B.A. of General Studies within a joint Simon Fraser University / Justice Institute of BC Leadership Development program.

He has received many commendations and awards, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2013, he was presented the Member of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada.

Jones will take over the role of Transit Police Chief Officer on April 1.

Wrestler-turned-police officer Bhola gets 12 years jail in drugs case

13 February 2019

The network was supplying drugs to the international market in Europe, Canada and United States

Mohali (Punjab) (IANS): Former international wrestler and Arjuna awardee Jagdish Bhola was on Wednesday convicted and sentenced by a special CBI court here in a multi-crore drugs racket, termed as Punjab’s biggest, that was busted in 2013.

Bhola was sentenced to imprisonment for 12, 10 and two years in the three cases in which he was convicted earlier on Wednesday by the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh.

International drugs dealer Anoop Singh Kahlon and industrialist Jagjit Singh Chahal were also convicted.

Bhola had been a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Punjab Police, but was dismissed from service in 2012 after his links with the drugs racket were revealed. He was arrested in November 2013 in connection with a Rs 700 crore [1 crore = 10 million] drugs racket. Subsequent police action against the drug mafia led to the busting of a Rs 6,000 crore drugs racket.

The drugs racket was later investigated by the CBI while the Enforcement Directorate carried out a separate probe.

The multi-crore drugs racket became controversial in the last few years with the names of politicians, including ministers and legislators, industrialists and police officers being linked to the racket.

Bhola and other 49 accused were produced before the CBI court for the verdict in the case on Wednesday and several of them were convicted. There were 74 accused in the drugs case.

An international wrestler-turned-police officer-turned-drugs kingpin, Bhola was, however, acquitted in three other drugs cases against him. His lawyer said that they will challenge the conviction in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Bhola was a key figure in the drug network which was diverting chemicals meant for medicinal purposes to illegal factories in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh that manufactured synthetic drugs like ‘ice’ and other party circuit drugs and was supplying them to the international market in Europe, Canada and United States.

The Punjab Police, in March 2013, had alleged that international boxers Ram Singh and Vijender Singh took heroin from Canada-based drug dealers Kahlon and Rocky for personal consumption between December 2012 and February 2013.

While Ram Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police in April 2013, Vijender Singh, who was an DSP under training in Haryana Police at that time, was questioned in this regard. The police had alleged that Vijender Singh consumed heroin 12 times. He, however, got a clean chit in the matter later.

Money from the multi-billion rupee racket of synthetic drugs was used by those involved in the illegal trade to lavish lifestyle, including buying VIP registration numbers for high-end cars at government auctions. Chahal’s pharmaceutical units in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi industrial township, 35 km from here, were raided by the police and precursor chemicals like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine worth Rs 925 crore in the international market were recovered.

Surrey convenience store robbery suspect identified and charged

13 February 2019

FOLLOWING a three-month investigation by the Surrey RCMP Robbery Section, a man has been charged in relation to four robberies which took place at a Surrey convenience store.

The investigation began after a robbery occurred on October 23, 2018, at a convenience store in the 15100-block of 96th Avenue. Three further robberies then occurred at the same location between October 23 and November 29.

The Surrey RCMP Robbery Section investigated each occurrence, gathered evidence and liaised with other police agencies, which lead to the identification of the suspect and linked all four robberies together.

Kyle Danyliuk, 26, has been arrested and is now charged with:

§ Four counts of robbery

§ Four counts of committing an indictable offence with face covered

§ Three counts of possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace

§ One count of using an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence

§ Two counts of uttering or using a forged or false credit card

“The efforts made investigating these occurrences and identifying the suspect, is a demonstration of the hard work and commitment our officers provide on a daily basis,” said Inspector Beth McAndie, Major Crime Senior Investigator, on Wednesday. “Recent crime statistics indicate robberies in Surrey continue to be on a downward trend with a 19% decrease from 2017 to 2018 which is an indication of the prevention and enforcement efforts of the Surrey RCMP.”

Anyone with information about this occurrence who has not already spoken with police, is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca

BC Liberal MLAs: Throne Speech promises little to improve education, affordability for Surrey

13 February 2019

LIB Stephanie Cadieux off — Stephanie Cadieux

BC Liberal MLAs in Surrey claim that the BC NDP government’s latest Throne Speech contained disappointingly little about government’s plans to make life better for families in Surrey and throughout the province.

They say while education and affordability are top of mind for Surrey residents, the NDP’s Throne Speech contains no real specifics in either of those areas.

“Surrey families will tell you that getting students out of portables and into proper classrooms is a number one priority – but there’s nothing new in this Throne Speech to help accomplish that,” says Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux. “Instead, this Throne Speech shows government plans to stay the course – the same course that’s seen Surrey’s portable count grow to 333. The NDP made big promises, and Surrey residents deserve to see their government follow through.”

The NDP campaigned on eliminating Surrey portables within four years, with half of them gone within two. But a year and a half into this government’s mandate, school project construction has been delayed and the portable count has risen.

“Despite containing multiple mentions of affordability, this Throne Speech doesn’t include any specifics on how the NDP actually plans to make life better for British Columbians,” says Surrey-White Rock MLA Tracy Redies. “So far we’ve seen the NDP government introduce and increase 19 taxes, which do nothing to provide financial relief for B.C. families. With uncertain economic times ahead, it’s more important than ever for government to be spearheading economic growth strategies not just relying on increasing taxes to balance the books.”

“This Throne Speech confirms the NDP has no plan to create jobs whatsoever,” says Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Marvin Hunt. “January’s job figures show the province lost 13,900 full-time jobs, and the Premier admits many British Columbians are forced to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. This simply isn’t good enough – Surrey residents deserve better.”

Reports that government officials “showed willful blindness” to dirty money scandal

13 February 2019

SEVERAL recent media stories feature whistleblowers warning that BC government officials were aware of and potentially complicit in BC’s dirty money laundering scandal, says the NDP.

A Global News report on Tuesday indicates that after a criminal organization was tipped off about a police raid, “police distrust of B.C. government officials grew”. (Global News, Feb 12, 2019)

A key whistleblower recently revealed to CTV that he waited until the BC Liberals were out of power before going public: “I always believed that I wanted to expose this, and I just had to wait for the right time. And to me that right time was when the provincial government changed.” –Ross Alderson, former head of anti-money laundering for BC Lottery Corporation (CTV W5 Feb 9, 2019)

And reporter Sam Cooper notes a consistent theme from the numerous whistleblowers who have spoken out: “They all believe that some officials in BC’s government showed willful blindness to massive money laundering.” –Sam Cooper (Global News, Feb 7, 2019)

In August, Attorney General David Eby requested that BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson assist government’s efforts by confidentially providing the previous government’s cabinet documents related to money laundering. Wilkinson refused the request. (Global News, Sept 14)

Ravi Kahlon, NDP MLA for Delta North, says: “This latest report raises some serious questions, most importantly: did someone in the previous government tip off money launderers? Given the mounting questions for the BC Liberals, it’s disappointing and frustrating that Andrew Wilkinson has refused to assist our investigation. It’s time for Andrew Wilkinson and his former cabinet colleagues to explain to British Columbians what they knew about the dirty money scandal and why they refused to act.”

IN PHOTOS: Dozens of buses stuck downtown on Granville Street

12 February 2019

Dozens of buses including numbers 50, 14, 16, 10, 7 and 4 were hopelessly stuck on the treacherously slippery Granville Street downtown starting around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Passengers and bus operators were equally frustrated.

Photo by Rattan Mall

Suspect charged in gas station robbery in Tsawwassen

12 February 2019

CRIME DELTA-CRIS-LEYKAUF — Delta Police spokesperson Cris Leykauf

AT 9:35 p.m. on February 5, Delta Police responded to a report of a robbery at a gas station in Tsawwassen. The suspect allegedly demanded money from the cash register, and produced a knife.

After stealing a quantity of cash and lottery tickets, the suspect fled. Police attended and contained the area, but the suspect had already left the scene.

“Our officers immediately began an investigation, collecting evidence to assist in identifying the suspect,” said Cris Leykauf, spokesperson for Delta Police. “The allegation of a weapon being used in a situation such as this was very concerning to our officers. Fortunately, no one was injured.”

Delta Police arrested a suspect in this offense on February 8 without incident.

Marc Joseph Schofield, 34, of Delta is now facing three charges in relation to this incident:

– committing robbery
– with intent to commit an indictable offence , have face masked; and
– carry or have in possession a weapon, a knife, for a purpose dangerous to the public peace for for the purpose of committing an offence
Schofield, considered to be known to police, is currently in custody. He next appears in court in Surrey on February 19.

Suspect in custody after brief, violent crime spree in Abbotsford

12 February 2019

ON February 9 at 9:29 p.m., Abbotsford Police patrol officers were called to the 2300-block of McCallum Road in response to a report of two people being assaulted with a weapon.

The victims told police that without any provocation, a man had chased them and struck them with a metal pipe. The assailant, later identified as Johnathan Rath, then threw the pipe at one of the victims and smashed a car window before fleeing on foot.

Within an hour of the assault, police were called to a robbery in progress at a liquor store on Montvue Avenue. The suspect threatened store clerks with a knife while stealing cash and alcohol. Minutes later, at 10:34 p.m., patrol officers in downtown Abbotsford observed a male matching the description of the robbery suspect. The male was arrested without incident.

Rath, 37, remains in custody charged with:

– Assault with a weapon (two counts)

– Assault causing bodily harm (two counts)

– Utter threats to cause death or bodily harm

– Robbery with a weapon

– Breach of court order (four counts)

The victims of the assault sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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