Vancouver riots: hundreds still to be investigated, as police work continues
More than a hundred people are still under investigation for criminal acts during the Vancouver riots, a police press release said today. A list of statistics regarding the riots came in this afternoon from VDP. Here it is:
General Riot Investigation Stats:
- 202 recorded incidents with anywhere from 1 to 300 suspects for each
- 4300 email tips to date
- 1700 emails requiring investigation
- 1500 video hours to review
- 15,000 images
- 3,000 individual video data files
- 431 tasks assigned for follow-up investigators currently, including tips
Number of People Who Have Turned Themselves In: 37
Gender: 30 males, 7 females
Hometown:
7 Vancouver
9 Surrey
2 Abbotsford
3 Burnaby
1 Coquitlam
2 New Westminster
2 Delta
2 North Vancouver
4 Maple Ridge
1 Victoria
1 Tofino
1 Comox
1 West Bank
1 Langley
The IRIT team is currently preparing charges against those who have come forward. This is expected to be a lengthy and complex process as investigators work to ensure the essential elements of the offences are met in order to obtain a successful conviction.
At present, an additional 111 people are under investigation for criminal acts relating to the riot. There are literally hundreds more who have been identified and who will become the subject of an investigation in the coming months.
Some of the Alleged Crimes Being Investigated:
- participating in a riot
- assault
- assaulting a peace officer
- mischief
- break and enter
- theft
- robbery
- arson
- weapons possession
- possession of stolen property
The investigative team is in place and comprised of 50 police officer and civilian experts from around the region. There are many challenges in this investigation, not the least of which is the sheer amount of evidence and information that must be painstakingly analyzed to ensure a complete and thorough investigation. The team is still fine-tuning the infrastructure that is dealing with the unprecedented volume of data.
A suspect may be identified quickly in a photograph committing a crime, however, investigators still need to determine the extent of their involvement. Additional crimes may not be uncovered until more in-depth analysis of available evidence is completed. As well, investigators need to ensure that people who turned themselves in to police are held accountable for all of the crimes they may have committed.
Ideally, investigators will compile the necessary evidence to go forward with all charges for an individual at one time, including the main offence of participating in a riot. Other charges may include robbery, theft, arson and mischief.
The I.R.I.T. team has catalogued hundreds of images of people that will be closely examined. Once properly processed as evidence, these images will be released to the public in due course to assist investigators in identifying suspects.
Anyone with photos or video not yet submitted is asked to make copies of them and burn them to a CD or DVD. It is important to keep the memory card that contains these pictures or videos, in case they need to be examined further. If the pictures or videos are stored on a cell phone, please do not delete them.
Once you have done this, please advise us at or send them to [email protected].
Tips can be left on the tip-line at 604-717-2541 or with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Anyone wanting to turn themselves in should call 778-838-2124 to make the necessary arrangements.