The Vancouver Police Department had a very busy last weekend in October, netting over 110 arrests between the night of Friday, Oct. 29 and the morning of Sunday, Oct. 31, in what a force spokesperson says was the city's busiest pandemic-era weekend so far.
Among those apprehensions, note the VPD in a Nov. 1 media release, 82 of those were arrests made of people for criminal offences, while 30 others were for either "breach of peace" or public intoxication.
Police cited numerous high-profile incidents that took place over the weekend, starting with the arrest of five individuals participating in a climate action protest who had locked themselves in a "hard block" at the intersection of Burrard and Pacific on the north end of the Burrard Bridge. The protestors were with the group Extinction Rebellion, which touted that this action was the "grand finale" of the group's 14 consecutive days of traffic disruptions in and around Vancouver.
Additionally, the VPD reports the Extinction Rebellion protest was one of seven protests and rallies that took place in the city over the weekend.
Vancouver Police also point to the city's 14th homicide, which involved an alleged confrontation between people in two vehicles that resulted in a rollover crash, as well as a fatal hit-and-run, as being part of the force's challenging weekend.
Further, the VPD says several vehicles were lit ablaze overnight Sunday and into early Monday morning in South Vancouver. The initial incident took place just before 1 a.m. Monday when two cars were set on fire near Prince Edward St and E 26th Ave in Mount Pleasant, followed by a parked car being set aflame near Victoria Dr and E 54th Ave less than two hours later. Police believe the arsons were targeted, and are investigating possible links to ongoing gang conflicts in the Lower Mainland.
“In addition to these major crimes, VPD officers also contended with large numbers of people who came downtown to party,” adds Sergeant Steve Addison of the VPD. “This resulted in several arrests for fights and drunkenness, as well as numerous reports of gropings and unprovoked assaults.”
“Despite deploying dozens of extra officers, VPD was stretched thin throughout the weekend after a number of violent incidents resulted in one homicide, several serious injuries, and extensive property damage,” says Sgt. Addison.
“Our officers were challenged due to the sheer number of incidents that took place across the city, but we’re working hard to gather evidence that will help us solve these crimes, hold offenders accountable, and keep people safe.”
The VPD's weekend by the numbers:
- 215 extra officers on duty
- 4,550 calls for service
- 2,418 calls were to 911
- 1 homicide - the city's 14th
- At least 5 reports of sexual assault
- 4 police officers assaulted
- 110+ arrests
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)