Public Disorder & the Decline of Vancouver's Livability

[jollyburger]

B.C. man banned from having rocks, bricks on transit

A Vancouver Provincial Court judge has banned a man from having rocks or bricks on transit after he pleaded guilty to three charges of mischief involving transit and business windows.

Daniel Ferguson, 38, appeared by video before Judge Dawn Boblin who sentenced him to 17 days jail and 18 months credit for time served in custody. Ferguson also received 12 months of probation.

Crown prosecutor Michael Fox told the judge that Ferguson had smashed a business' window at Ontario St. and West 5th Ave. in Vancouver. The Jan. 30, 2024, incident resulted in a charge of mischief over $5,000.


Fox said the man had also thrown an object through a window at Patterson SkyTrain station April 23 resulting in $6,000 damage, resulting in another mischief charge over $5,000.

And in a third charge, Ferguson smashed property at the Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain station on April 2 causing $20,000 damage.

“The values are significant,” Fox said.

The prosecutor suggested 35 days jail less the time served.

“That will get him home by Christmas Eve,” Fox said.

Boblin’s rock and brick ban for Ferguson applies to B.C. Transit property.

https://www.nsnews.com/highlights/bc-man-banned-from-having-rocks-bricks-on-transit-9954151

[MIPS]

“that will get him home by christmas eve,”

Unless you are implying he's going home to a father who will leave him with a detached retina and enough bruises to make him look like a smurf, what the hell does that accomplish???
That's not a punishment at all!

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Unless you are implying he's going home to a father who will leave him with a detached retina and enough bruises to make him look like a smurf, what the hell does that accomplish???
That's not a punishment at all!

Our “justice” system is a joke.

[Vin]

Total idiots running the system. These guys are ensured jaw-dropping benefits, fat cheques and pensions, so they do not care about what ordinary folks and tax payers are facing.

[NewfBC]

Suspect arrested after attempted armed robbery at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver

Police say officers seized weapons, including a firearm and 2 improvised explosive devices

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/holt-renfrew-armed-robbery-arrest-1.7421408

Ron.

[jollyburger]

A B.C. man who pleaded guilty to assaulting two working bus drivers in Vancouver and Richmond has been sentenced to a 60-day conditional sentence order and 12 months’ probation.

Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Reginald Harris heard the man — who Glacier Media has chosen not to name — has a past history of assaulting servers, people who were just doing their jobs.

https://www.newwestrecord.ca/highlights/...ivers-gets-conditional-sentence-10018940

[Metro-One]

Wow! With hard consequences like that it’s amazing we have crime at all… /s

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by Vin

Total idiots running the system. These guys are ensured jaw-dropping benefits, fat cheques and pensions, so they do not care about what ordinary folks and tax payers are facing.

The judicial system and police resources are there to ensure there's no civil uprising or movement against the elite.

Seriously, one can see stricter sentences for hacking or causing any disruption to business practices versus inflicting physical harm to others.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

The judicial system and police resources are there to ensure there's no civil uprising or movement against the elite.

Seriously, one can see stricter sentences for hacking or causing any disruption to business practices versus inflicting physical harm to others.

Totally.
I really don't understand the rationale for all the lax sentences meted out to criminals in this country, despite the heinous crimes committed by very evil individuals. Why and who are we trying to please here?

Originally Posted by NewfBC

Suspect arrested after attempted armed robbery at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver

Police say officers seized weapons, including a firearm and 2 improvised explosive devices

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/holt-renfrew-armed-robbery-arrest-1.7421408

Ron.

Heard from Global News this morning that this filth-of-a-human-being was banned from owning a firearm due to prior convictions, but here we have again; with him sporting not only a loaded shotgun and threatening to shoot employees, but also armed with a couple of fine pipe bombs to blow people sky-high. Where did he get weapons and dangerous explosives?

He and his fellow weapon suppliers belong to the Gulag.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by Vin

Totally.
I really don't understand the rationale for all the lax sentences meted out to criminals in this country, despite the heinous crimes committed by very evil individuals. Why and who are we trying to please here?

We are ok long as the rich aren't impacted...

It's far too expensive to hold criminals, institutionalize mentally ill individuals or address the drug crisis in a very strict matter. Catch-and-release impacts insurance ratepayers (property damage) and average individuals who happen to be caught in the cross-fire (front-line workers and pedestrians are more likely to be impacted). Upper class people are minimally impacted. It's just cheaper to have mentally violent people out on the streets rather than forking out initial capital and a steady stream of funds to institutionalize them.

The reality we also have to face is Canada is quickly becoming a low trust society with our politicians engaging in illicit acts. Many top players are either directly or indirectly involved in organized crime and there's little appetite at the very top to act (see auto-theft rings out in Ontario).

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

We are ok long as the rich aren't impacted...

It's far too expensive to hold criminals, institutionalize mentally ill individuals or address the drug crisis in a very strict matter. Catch-and-release impacts insurance ratepayers (property damage) and average individuals who happen to be caught in the cross-fire (front-line workers and pedestrians are more likely to be impacted). Upper class people are minimally impacted. It's just cheaper to have mentally violent people out on the streets rather than forking out initial capital and a steady stream of funds to institutionalize them.

The reality we also have to face is Canada is quickly becoming a low trust society with our politicians engaging in illicit acts. Many top players are either directly or indirectly involved in organized crime and there's little appetite at the very top to act (see auto-theft rings out in Ontario).

You have a good point there, although at present I would rather see the top players as mere irresponsible and apathetic rather than actual criminals trying to protect their peers (since no actual proof has been presented at the moment). I see this as a symptom of wealthy developed democratic societies: people getting complacent with all their fat cheques and benefits, and actually doing a lot less work, or even none at all, while un-shamefully still expecting society to give them more without giving much back. If they take more from society, less money goes around to make it function well because everyone down the chain gets or wants a larger slice of the pie.

[SpongeG]

do you think Vancouver will follow California and crack down on shoplifters? Shoplifters can now be prosecuted under prop 36. The guy in the video stole two scooters from Target will be held in jail now, under the old rules he would have been set free with a promise to appear in court. Stealing is a felony charge again or now down there.

• Video Link

[jollyburger]

Man arrested in Vancouver after hiding in dumpster from officers investigating alleged threats: police

Vancouver police say they arrested a man who tried to hide from officers in a dumpster after he allegedly threatened people in the city's Kitsilano area on Sunday.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said officers used a police dog and a beanbag gun in the arrest of the man, who had reportedly been in people's backyards in the area of the Arbutus greenway and was "armed with a pair of gardening shears."

After officers responded to reports of a suspicious man around noon Sunday, they said they found the suspect in a lane near Arbutus Street and West 11th Avenue, but he fled into a "compound" behind a business and was found at the bottom of a dumpster beneath "several layers of garbage."

Police say the suspect, who still had the gardening shears and refused to surrender, was bitten by a police dog and hit with beanbag rounds during the arrest.

The VPD said the 31-year-old man was taken into custody and treated for injuries.

Police said he was already wanted provincewide on a warrant for assault, uttering threats and other charges, and are now recommending additional charges related to mischief, weapons possession and breaching bail conditions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c...gun-to-arrest-dumpster-suspect-1.7423612

[Vin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

do you think Vancouver will follow California and crack down on shoplifters? Shoplifters can now be prosecuted under prop 36. The guy in the video stole two scooters from Target will be held in jail now, under the old rules he would have been set free with a promise to appear in court. Stealing is a felony charge again or now down there.

• Video Link

That's great and I do applaud them. What is happening down there is a complete reversal from when Harris was governor of Cali, where her harmful policies brought the state to what it is now, and is one of the reasons why the Democrats lost the presidential race in the US. Many Americans have this conception that if you can screw a state, you can do the same to a nation.

Knowing that Canada only knows how to ape what America does in recent years, I am not surprised that we will follow suit in what Cali does. The NDP government in BC may be reluctant at first, but will eventually cave in. Otherwise our situation will become worse while the US keep improving when it comes to rampant drug-use, homelessness, lawlessness and public safety.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

That's great and I do applaud them. What is happening down there is a complete reversal from when Harris was governor of Cali, where her harmful policies brought the state to what it is now, and is one of the reasons why the Democrats lost the presidential race in the US. Many Americans have this conception that if you can screw a state, you can do the same to a nation.

Impressive Vin, even for your thin grasp of reality.

'Harris' was never governor of California.

The legislation that allowed shoplifting under $950 to be considered as a misdemeanor, rather than a felony, was introduced as a result of Prop 47, that was supported by a majority of California voters. There is no evidence that Kamala Harris ever supported Prop 47.

That was a lie by Donald Trump.

[BaddieB]

Originally Posted by Vin

when Harris was governor of Cali

Kamala Harris was never governor of California, but I know reality is something you aren't particularly concerned about.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Impressive Vin, even for your thin grasp of reality.

'Harris' was never governor of California.

The legislation that allowed shoplifting under $950 to be considered as a misdemeanor, rather than a felony, was introduced as a result of Prop 47, that was supported by a majority of California voters. There is no evidence that Kamala Harris ever supported Prop 47.

That was a lie by Donald Trump.

I think it's important to mention that the California AG is not supposed to block or support a proposition. But claiming neutrality on the issue doesn't remove someone from the debate if it matched or didn't match their past positions on the criminal reform debate.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I think it's important to mention that the California AG is not supposed to block or support a proposition. But claiming neutrality on the issue doesn't remove someone from the debate if it matched or didn't match their past positions on the criminal reform debate.

While she was AG she received negative comments from a number of positions, including those of progressive groups. But I don't think this is the thread to debate her history. It's somewhat misleading to link California's history of dealing with shoplifting, and here anyway. We don't vote on propositions to change policy.

[jollyburger]

Stating the obvious.

One man is facing a host of charges after police allege he assaulted strangers in public on Christmas Day and, later, set fire to an apartment building.

North Vancouver RCMP issued a release Monday detailing the disturbing sequence of events.

On Dec. 25 at approximately 3:15 p.m., a 38-year-old woman spotted the suspect on the 100 block of Bewicke Avenue, smashing the windshield of her car.

“The victim attempted to stop it. The suspect left, came back and assaulted the victim,” he said, adding that the injuries were “not too serious,” but still required her to be taken to hospital for treatment.

There were several witnesses who saw the assault, which happened close to the Spirit Trail, but the suspect took off before police arrived, Sahak said.


About 30 minutes later, a second stranger assault was reported near the foot of Lonsdale Avenue where the Shipyards Christmas Market had been taking place. There, they believe, the same man sucker punched a woman and attacked her son.

“Essentially, the suspect punched a woman from behind in the head and then began to assault her afterward, and then the son stepped in, and the suspect assaulted the son,” Sahak said. “She has serious injuries.”

Again, the suspect fled before police arrived. Sahak said there were witnesses to the Shipyards attack but investigators are hoping for others to come forward, including those whose dashcams may have been capturing footage of the area around 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 25.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 29, North Vancouver City Fire Department crews responded to a fire burning at the front door of an apartment suite on the 100 block of East Keith Road. The building was evacuated while crews put out the flames, which investigators deemed suspicious and police later determined was likely deliberately set by the same suspect as the Christmas Day assaults. Sahak said the suspect and the suite’s occupant did not know each other.

Police arrested the suspect just before noon that day on the 1900 block of Lonsdale Avenue where police say he was breaching bail conditions from a previous arrest. The Crown has since sworn two charges of assault, one charge of assault causing bodily harm, four counts of mischief and one charge of arson against Jeremy Lariviere, a 42-year-old Vancouver man.

Lariviere has a long history in the court system. At the time of his arrest, he was on bail facing one charge of assault with a weapon related to a Nov. 2023 incident. In that case, the victim was a stranger as well, Sahak said.

Lariviere remains in custody but he is due for a bail hearing on Wednesday.

“Obviously he’s got some serious mental health issues that are obviously not being dealt with,” Sahak said. “We think that he’s a danger to the public, given this unpredictable behaviour, and that is why we recommended to the courts and to B.C. Prosecution Service that he should be held in custody until his trial date.”


Anyone with information about any of these incidents and who has not spoken to police is asked to call North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 and quote file #2024-26388. Those who wish to provide information but want to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/suspec...christmas-day-stranger-assaults-10070449

His earliest charges are out of Squamish impaired driving.

[whatnext]

Lock him up, throw away the key. Let’s hope the Conservative’s bring in a Canadian version of “three strikes and you’re out”.