Three people were arrested Monday night and are facing charges after refusing to leave the Vancouver police station during a vigil for a woman found dead in the city's Downtown Eastside last month.
Const. Lindsay Houghton said protesters arrived at the Main Street Vancouver Police station shortly after 5 p.m. for a rally intended to push the force into probing the death of Ashley Machisknic, a 22-year-old found dead behind a hotel last month. Some believe her death, initially considered a fatal fall from the Regent Hotel, was actually a murder.
"Eight protesters entered the building and advised officers that it was their intention to stay in the lobby until their demands to meet with Chief Constable Chu were met," Houghton said.
Houghton said protesters were asked to leave at 7 p.m. when the station closed.
"They allegedly refused repeated appeals by officers to leave and indicated that officers would have to arrest them," Houghton said.
Five of the group left on their own after Chu agreed to meet a representative at a later time, however, three "indicated they would prefer to be arrested," Houghton said.
Officers took three women into custody shortly before 9 p.m. for assault by trespassing. There were no injuries reported to suspects or police officers.
The VPD says its Major Crimes Section and homicide section are actively investigating Machisknic's death.
In a statement emailed to media, vigil organizer Stella August said the group is demanding justice for the young woman's death.
"The circumstances of her death clearly indicate this was not a suicide; this was a murder that absolutely must be investigated by the Vancouver Police Department. We are prepared to take action to make sure there is a proper investigation into her death; we are tired of her and others becoming just another statistic."
