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www.delta-optimist.com
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018
The voice of Delta since 1922
Charge laid in Armfelt death
Franco Sarra, 20, facing manslaughter charge in relation to death outside Tsawwassen pub in December 2016 DPD Chief Neil Dubord. “I want to thank the community and Mr. Armfelt’s friends and family for A Burnaby man has now been their patience as this allowed charged in connection with the our investigators the time to dilideath of a Tsawwassen man folgently take the needed steps, so lowing an altercation over a year they could bring us to the point ago. we’re at today. Franco Sarra, 20, faces a “Investigators updated Mr. charge of manslaughter in relaArmfelt’s family yesterday with tion to the death of Russ Armfelt, this news, and I can relay that 53, outside they are of the Rose feeling a Russ Armfelt’s and Crown bit numb Pub in right now. death was a shock to Tsawwassen This day our community. in December was a long 2016. CHIEF NEIL DUBORD time comSarra was ing, and arrested by it’s hard police in Vancouver Wednesday for them to believe. Our hope is without incident. He remains that they can now start to find a in custody and made his first bit a closure with this news.” appearance in Surrey provincial Last October, several of court yesterday. Armfelt’s friends held a rally in The Delta Police Department Tsawwassen to keep his death in says Sarra and Armfelt were the public eye and continue to known to each other. push for justice. Previously, DPD said Armfelt Linda Hayes, who organized was located unconscious and the rally, was happy to hear unresponsive early in the mornthe news that a charge was laid ing of Dec. 11, 2016 outside when contacted by the Optimist the rear of the 56th Street pub. yesterday morning. Despite efforts by paramedics to “I’m relieved, but I fear that revive him, he later died in hosthere won’t be the type of senpital. His death was regarded as tence handed out that befits suspicious. taking a life,” Hayes said. “I hope “Russ Armfelt’s death was a that the Delta police are not shock to our community,” said done. I miss my friend.” Hayes said the news of the FILE PHOTO charge, however, doesn’t provide Linda Hayes organized a rally much closure. last fall to keep the spotlight “There is not a day I don’t on Russ Armfelt’s death. miss him,” she said. IAN JACQUES
i j a c q u e s @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .co m