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T H U R S D A Y
June 6, 2013
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
Charges laid in Mission fatal hit-and-run ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
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suspect has been charged in connection to the fatal hit-and-run of a Mission grandmother last year. Justin Brown, 25, is charged with dangerous driving causing death and failure to stop at an accident with a person after Elinor Clark, 65, died after being struck by a car on Dec. 2. Clark, a grandmother of four, was walking hand in hand with her husband of 45 years, Peter, along the north shoulder of 14th Avenue near Caribou Street at 4:30 p.m. when she was hit. She was airlifted from the collision site but was pronounced dead at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.
First reported @
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Special O athlete Mike Palitti, left, and APD Deputy Chief Rick Lucy, right, lead the way during the Law Enforcement Torch Run that started in the city on Tuesday. Proceeds from the Torch Run and the upcoming Abbotsford Police Challenge Run on June 8 support the Special Olympics.
Pounding pavement for Special O
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
A
bbotsford Police officers laced up to support B.C.’s Special Olympics as the Law Enforcement Torch Run got underway on Tuesday. About a dozen officers and Special O athletes participated in the first leg of the event, which set out from the Abbotsford police station and made its around the city stopping at a variety of community sponsors, said Const. Ian MacDonald. The Torch Run is a four-day affair that links communities across the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland and wraps up at the Delta police department on June 7.
Special Olympics athletes and officers participating in the run exchange the Flame of Hope torch along the way. Special Olympics B.C. has been an APD charity of choice for some time, said MacDonald. Abbotsford Torch participants got a running start on the fundraising initiative, he added. “We’ve already raised several thousands of dollars following stops at our community sponsors,” said MacDonald. The APD also hosts its own annual Police Challenge Run on Saturday, which provides additional financial support to the Special Olympics. The popular community fundraiser
features a family-friendly five-kilometre fun run/walk and a 10-km challenge run that starts out at 9 a.m. from Abbotsford’s Thunderbird Memorial Plaza adjacent to city hall. “It’s a big week for us in the fundraising and our efforts for Special Olympics,” said MacDonald. After Abbotsford, the Torch Run headed into Chilliwack, Langley, Surrey and White Rock on Tuesday. ■ For details on the Abbotsford Police Challenge Run on June 8, visit abbypd.ca/Challenge-Run, call 604-859-5225 or 1-800-898-6111 and ask for the Challenge Run local.
Witnesses told police the suspect vehicle, a blue 2007 Honda Accord, and another vehicle were speeding as they headed west on 14th Avenue. Clark was struck when the Accord passed the other car on the right. Mission RCMP later found the suspect vehicle not far from the scene but appealed for more witnesses for additional evidence in order to put the driver behind the wheel. Within a week, RCMP announced that a man they had already arrested in a break and enter case was also a person of interest in the hit-and-run. At that time police did not release Brown’s name. The hit-and-run offences were sworn against Brown on May 30, said Mission RCMP Sgt. Shaun Wright. The RCMP is pleased with the resulting charges, said Wright. “Anytime there’s a serious incident like this, police are relieved when an investigation is fruitful and successful,” he said. Brown is also charged with assault with a weapon and breaking and entering in connection to an incident in Mission on Dec. 5. According to online court records, Brown has prior convictions for numerous offences in Surrey, Delta and Vancouver including assault of a police officer, common assault, possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence, mischief under $5,000 and multiple counts of breach of parole and conditions. He is also charged with aggravated assault in connection to an incident in July of 2012 in Surrey. Brown is scheduled to appear on both the hitand-run and break and enter charges on June 7 in Abbotsford provincial court.
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