The Vancouver Police Department is hunting down its five "most wanted" Stanley Cup riot suspects with a new poster campaign that highlights a violent attack on a Good Samaritan.
The latest poster of suspects in the June 15, 2011 riot includes photos of 100 people police hope to identify, including five young men suspected of beating up Robert MacKay when he tried to stop people from smashing windows at The Bay. MacKay was punched, kicked and pepper-sprayed before two bystanders stepped in and rescued him from the mob.
Chief Jim Chu told reporters Thursday that 15 people were involved in the "vicious attack." Investigators have already identified 10 suspects; three of those have been charged, another three have had charges recommended against them and four are under investigation.
The poster campaign was launched Thursday morning, when 340 volunteers and 70 police officers plastered suspects' faces in 19 cities across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island.
"We are committed to holding as many rioters as possible accountable for the carnage and mayhem they committed," Chu said.
It cost police $14,000 to produce 70,000 posters -- money that was provided by the Vancouver Police Foundation.
Police have also announced the approval of six more charges against three people they believe participated in the riot, bringing the total number to 177 charges approved against 67 suspects to date. The latest alleged rioters include:
- Mustafa Khan, 19, of Surrey, charged with participating in a riot and mischief
- Vassili Kisselev, 22, of Coquitlam, charged with participating in a riot and break and enter
- A 17-year-old Burnaby resident, who cannot be named because of his age, charged with participating in a riot and break and enter
The Integrated Riot Investigation Team has recommended a total of 432 charges against 150 suspects so far, but they predict many more charges to come.
