Two years after rioters caused more than $3 million in damages to businesses and vehicles in the Stanley Cup riot, the Vancouver Police Department continues to have a team of 12 investigators and analysts searching for suspects.
Sgt. Randy Fincham, a VPD media liaison officer, said more charges will be forwarded to Crown counsel in the coming months against 25 suspects, bringing the total to 350 people charged since the riot.
At this point in time, there is no determination that this [investigation] is going to end anytime soon, Fincham told reporters Friday, the day before the two-year anniversary of the riot that erupted downtown after the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final.
Over the past two years, police recommended 1,086 charges against 325 people. The charges have resulted in 149 guilty pleas and sentences ranging from 30 days to 20 months, according to Neil MacKenzie, a spokesman for the Crown.
All received sentences of imprisonment to be served either in the community, on conditions, or to be served in a custodial institution, MacKenzie said.
At least 25 people have breached their conditions imposed by the court, included ignoring curfews and drinking alcohol. Police continue to track 80 charged or convicted suspects involved in the riot.
We will continue to monitor and work with these people just to make sure that theyre abiding by that promise that they made to the courts and to the community that theyre sorry for what they did, Fincham said.
Police provided an update on the riot investigation the same day the Insurance Corporation of B.C. announced it filed suit in B.C. Supreme Court against 46 people who were charged or convicted for their actions on the night of the riot.
The suit is directly related to damage the suspects caused to 77 vehicles, including high-priced Hummers and BMWs that were parked downtown.
[ICBCs] claim relates to losses and damages arising out of insurance claims pertaining to motor vehicles that were damaged by the defendants acting individually, or together, with others during the riot, the statement of claim said.
The claim said 112 businesses were damaged and at least 122 vehicles, including 24 emergency vehicles, were damaged or destroyed.
The insurance corporations total payout for the 77 vehicles was $526,116, including $61,014 to the owner of a 2006 black Bentley either heavily damaged or destroyed.
ICBC also paid out $46,542 for damages to a black 2006 BMW M5, $39,959 for a black 2007 Hummer H2, $27,623 for a white 2008 Mini Cooper and $22,847 for a grey 2010 Volkswagen Jetta.
The lowest payout was $11.26 for damage to a red 1995 Toyota Corolla, although the insurance corporation still hasnt finalized all damage costs to the 77 vehicles.
The claim lists the names of the suspects and their addresses, including the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge.
mhowell@vancourier.com
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