Cops and Courts

Ruppreet Singh Pawar went on trial in provincial court in Chilliwack on Feb. 23, 2023 facing a charge of sexual assault from July 2018. Pawar has delayed the proceedings numerous times over the four-plus years by firing his lawyer, at least four times. (Facebook photo)

Charter rights of accused in Chilliwack sexual assault case were breached but no mistrial granted

Video evidence from school seen by RCMP investigator destroyed inadvertently and ‘due to inexperience’

 

The house where Daniel Hackl allegedly engaged in an hours-long standoff with RCMP on Victoria Day burned to the ground the same night he was arrested. Hackl has made one strange court appearance and refused to appear for another since being detained. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack man accused of shooting at RCMP refuses to cooperate with court

Daniel Hackl was a no-show for a video bail review, opting to not come out of his cell

 

The house where Daniel Hackl allegedly engaged in an hours-long standoff with RCMP on Victoria Day burned to the ground the same night he was arrested. The cause of the fire has yet to be explained, but Chilliwack Fire Department crews returned to Knight Road and Queen Street to douse hot spots on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. man charged with shooting at police makes strange first court appearance

Daniel Hackl said he had no name when asked by the judge, and otherwise didn’t say a word

 

Former Main Street Church executive pastor John Vermeer was convicted of downloading and possessing “some of the most offensive, harmful and depraved forms” of child pornography and sentenced to 14 months jail in October 2021. His appeal of that conviction was dismissed on May 18, 2023. (Facebook file photo)

Chilliwack church pastor’s child porn conviction appeal dismissed by B.C. court

John Vermeer called a ‘pedophile’ caught with images of ‘offensive, harmful and depraved’ child abuse

Former Main Street Church executive pastor John Vermeer was convicted of downloading and possessing “some of the most offensive, harmful and depraved forms” of child pornography and sentenced to 14 months jail in October 2021. His appeal of that conviction was dismissed on May 18, 2023. (Facebook file photo)
The Abbotsford Law Courts (Abbotsford News file photo)

Man who grabbed cop’s stun gun during arrest in Abbotsford sentenced to 30 days

Raul Hernandez also waved knife at staff during incident at auto parts store

The Abbotsford Law Courts (Abbotsford News file photo)
A white Ferrari was impounded after police caught the driver doing 161 kilometres per hour in a 100 kpr zone with a dog sitting on his lap. (BC Highway Patrol photo)

The fast and the fur-ious: Man caught speeding near Chilliwack with bulldog in his lap

The driver and his dog were clocked doing 61 kph over the posted speed limit on Highway 1

A white Ferrari was impounded after police caught the driver doing 161 kilometres per hour in a 100 kpr zone with a dog sitting on his lap. (BC Highway Patrol photo)
Kristina Tkachuk, Derek Descoteau’s aunt, left, and Derek’s mom Brenda Smith have victim impact statements prepared that they’re hoping will be read during Colin John’s review board hearing. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Moms say ‘sugar-coated’ statements fall short in wake of devastating B.C. knife attack

Families leery as board decides future of man not criminally responsible for stabbing man to death

Kristina Tkachuk, Derek Descoteau’s aunt, left, and Derek’s mom Brenda Smith have victim impact statements prepared that they’re hoping will be read during Colin John’s review board hearing. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A still of a video of Mark Alexander Van Heek being handcuffed by an RCMP officer on Sardis Elementary school grounds on Feb. 8, 2022. (Facebook)

Chilliwack man fined $500 for ignoring order to stay away from elementary school

Mark Alexander Van Heek was one of several people protesting COVID measures at the school last year

A still of a video of Mark Alexander Van Heek being handcuffed by an RCMP officer on Sardis Elementary school grounds on Feb. 8, 2022. (Facebook)
Steven Frederickson. (Vancouver Police Department handout)

UPDATE: Chilliwack killer wanted on Canadawide warrant re-arrested by Vancouver police

Steven Frederickson who killed his roommate in 2010 walked away from Vancouver halfway house

Steven Frederickson. (Vancouver Police Department handout)
Vancouver Law Courts. (File photo: Anna Burns)

Surrey couple acquitted of terrorism hit snag in lawsuit against police

They sought the names of 3 undercover officers whose identities are shielded by publication bans

Vancouver Law Courts. (File photo: Anna Burns)
Skylar Pelletier, born 1999, is a high-risk sex offender charged with breaching a long-term supervision order in Chilliwack in October 2022. (Vancouver Police Department handout)

High-risk sex offender charged with breaching release conditions in Chilliwack

VPD statement in 2021 said Skylar Pelletier ‘poses a significant risk to women in the community’

Skylar Pelletier, born 1999, is a high-risk sex offender charged with breaching a long-term supervision order in Chilliwack in October 2022. (Vancouver Police Department handout)
Sujjad Najat Jalal was the victim of a homicide in Chilliwack on April 1, 2023. This image is from a GoFundMe set up for his funeral costs. (GoFundMe)

Victim of homicide at Chilliwack cemetery was Vancouver drug dealer in his 20s

Sujjad Ali Jalal’s brother was also the victim of the Lower Mainland gang conflict in 2020

Sujjad Najat Jalal was the victim of a homicide in Chilliwack on April 1, 2023. This image is from a GoFundMe set up for his funeral costs. (GoFundMe)
An RCMP officer in Vedder View Gardens cemetery in Chilliwack after 8 p.m. on April 1, 2023 at the scene of an apparent shooting, the third in the area in eight days. (Submitted photo by anonymous)

UPDATE: IHIT investigating homicide at Chilliwack cemetery, the 3rd shooting in 8 days

One male dead, one seriously injured at double shooting at Vedder View Gardens Cemetery Saturday

An RCMP officer in Vedder View Gardens cemetery in Chilliwack after 8 p.m. on April 1, 2023 at the scene of an apparent shooting, the third in the area in eight days. (Submitted photo by anonymous)
The Vedder River Rotary Trail at Peach Road in Chilliwack near where two people were seriously injured after a likely gang-related shooting on March 25, 2023. (GoogleMaps)Í

Two seriously injured in probable gang-related shooting near the Vedder River in Chilliwack

Gun shots reported at 8:15 p.m. Saturday near the Peach Road parking lot in suburban area

The Vedder River Rotary Trail at Peach Road in Chilliwack near where two people were seriously injured after a likely gang-related shooting on March 25, 2023. (GoogleMaps)Í
Allen James Brooks was convicted of two counts of sexual assault in 2020 during a trial at the Port Coquitlam Courthouse. (The News files)

B.C. high court orders a new trial for former X-ray tech convicted of sexual assault

Allen James Brooks was convicted of two counts of sexual assault in 2020

Allen James Brooks was convicted of two counts of sexual assault in 2020 during a trial at the Port Coquitlam Courthouse. (The News files)
A doctor who formerly worked in Duncan is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for contempt in divorce proceedings. (File photo)

Former Vancouver Island doctor wanted on Canada-wide warrant

Dr. Sujay Ishwarlall has history of domestic violence, fled country during divorce proceedings

A doctor who formerly worked in Duncan is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for contempt in divorce proceedings. (File photo)
Statue of Lady Justice at Vancouver Law Courts. (Black Press Media file photo)

Surrey meth user’s murder conviction upheld

Pee Lee Pi lost an appeal of his conviction for 2019 second-degree murder of Tee Bor, 68

Statue of Lady Justice at Vancouver Law Courts. (Black Press Media file photo)
Gary Donald Johnston. (File photo)

Surrey murderer who stabbed man during burglary dies in prison

Gary Donald Johnston was serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of Vic Fraser, a man he brutally stabbed to death in Bridgeview

Gary Donald Johnston. (File photo)
Jacob Hes was a regular member of the RCMP in E Division at the time of the alleged offences. (Contributed to Black Press Media)

Former Fort St. James Mountie charged with historic sex assault of young teen

Jacob Hes charged with sexual assault and sexual interference

Jacob Hes was a regular member of the RCMP in E Division at the time of the alleged offences. (Contributed to Black Press Media)
Statue of Lady Justice at Vancouver Law Courts. (File photo)

New trial ordered in Surrey drug trafficking case

Appeal court found accused likely wouldn’t have pleaded guilty had he known he’d be forfeiting certain rights

Statue of Lady Justice at Vancouver Law Courts. (File photo)