B.C. police agencies issue rare warning about 11 men linked to gang violence
Police agencies in British Columbia held a joint news conference to identify 11 men they say are linked to a slew of killings and shootings in the province, warning the public to avoid being near them.
"It is highly likely a rival gangster will target them with violence," said CFSEU Asst. Cmdr. Manny Mann, saying the men listed are a risk to their friends and family as well as bystanders.
"We want British Columbians to know their faces," he said.
Mann went on to pledge to seize their property, including vehicles, in order to disrupt their alleged illegal activity.
The names on the list are:
- Shakiel Basra, 28
- Amarpreet Samra, 28
- Jagdeep Cheema, 30
- Ravnder Sarma, 35
- Barinder Dhaliwal, 39
- Andy St. Pierre, 40
- Gurpreet Dhaliwal, 35
- Richard Joseph Whitlock, 40
- Samroop Gill, 29
- Sumdish Gill, 28
- Sukhdeep Pansal, 33
The Vancouver police representative revealed that the province's largest police department has been doing covert work to try and combat the problem, insisting they've invested considerable resources to do so and defending their tight-lipped approach to avoid going into details.
"I know this can be frustrating for the public when they hear about incidents of violence in their communities and feel unsafe," said Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson.
She went on to outline several arrests made in co-ordination with other police agencies, some of which involved international co-operation.
"We are just as concerned and frustrated that we have to stand before you again to address a series of recent events related to the drug trade and gang violence," said Asst. Comm. of the B.C. RCMP Will Ng. "I am asking for your support and assistance."
He said since gangsters are moving across the Lower Mainland and other areas, working with various police agencies is critical.
GOOD REASON FOR WARNING
Warnings to stay away from specific alleged criminals were once almost unheard-of, but they have been slowly increasing in recent years. This is the second one from the CFSEU in a little more than a year; the last one was prescient.
Meninder Dhaliwal, who was on last year’s 11-man list, was gunned down in Whistler late last month in a shooting that had tourists and visitors screaming and running from the violence. Police say his brother, Harpreet, was the man shot dead in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood last year.
Another brother, 35-year-old Gurpreet Dhaliwal, is on this year’s list.
WHAT TO DO? NO CLEAR ANSWER
Given that these men are under overt and covert police surveillance as investigators work to seize alleged proceeds of crime and evidence to convict them, CTV News asked what exactly police expect the public to do if they encounter such dangerous people.
Should a small business owner deny them service, for example? How should a neighbour, who’s unable to just pick up and move, respond? The answer is unclear, but police acknowledge isolating the men and making pariahs of them is part of their strategy.
“We want the public to know who they are,” answered Mann. “That's very, very important so they can take all the steps necessary to ensure their own particular safety so they can stay away from them, distance themselves from them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.