Tuesday, July 16 , 2013 Bayonets and a series of other weapons were turned in locally during last month’s gun amnesty…
Page A5 • LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 24 PAGES Crime
Community event
Police hunt for gunman
‘Well-oiled’ fest draws big crowd
Mounties were shot at, in what RCMP are calling a brazen encounter in Whonnock Saturday morning. by Roxanne Hooper One of two men fleeing police in rural Maple Ridge this weekend opened fire on an officer and his cruiser before making good their escape. An RCMP officer was patrolling in the 25800 block of Spilsbury Road at about 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning when – in what police call a chance encounter – he spotted two men hiding in the bushes, and “acting suspicious,” explained Cpl. Alanna Dunlop. When approached, they fled and opened fire. It’s believed there was one shot fired, which police confirm did not hit the officer or his cruiser. It’s unclear what kind of gun was used. “This is an overt act of violence towards a uniCpl. Alanna Dunlop formed police officer that Ridge Meadows RCMP will not be tolerated in our community,” Dunlop said. “Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident, but we are aggressively pursuing all leads to identify these individuals and hold them accountable for these violent actions,” she elaborated. Ridge Meadows RCMP, with the assistance of the Lower Mainland police dog unit, conducted an extensive search of the area, but were unable to locate the men, Dunlop said. The men are described as dark skinned and wearing dark coloured hoodies. As of Monday afternoon, police had no suspects. But the investigation is continuing, with the assistance of the general investigation officers and the Lower Mainland forensic identification service, she elaborated. It is believed the men fled from the area in a vehicle, but no description of the vehicle is available. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251, CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or report online at www. solvecrime.ca.
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Story and photos by Roxanne Hooper
Two-year-old Sofie Laundrup of Maple Ridge (above) as well as seven-year-olds Mikaela Taylor and Jayda Sulina (bottom left) danced to the sounds of Los Furios, as well as La Candela (bottom right), both bands that performed early Saturday evening at Maple Ridge’s annual Caribbean Festival.
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A two-day Caribbean Festival that took over a giant chunk of Maple Ridge’s downtown this weekend is being classified as “the best ever.” Attendance on Saturday leapt an estimated 20 per cent compared to the 2012 event, and spectators, vendors, and entertainers alike were saying how impressed they were with the 13th annual event, entertainment organizer Deddy Geese told The TIMES on Monday. “We had very high compliments from a lot of people. It was a resounding success,” he said, sharing praise with the rest of the “welloiled team” of committee members and volunteers who help make it all possible. It’s estimated that upwards of 20,000 people converged on the heart of Maple Ridge during the two days for music, ethnic food and vendors, as well as a plethora of family-oriented activities – all with a Caribbean theme. Geese described this year’s event as “spectacular,” and shared comments from bands and a few Caribbean DJs that the two-day lineup in Maple Ridge was being described as the best in Western Canada this year. “You can take a sort of pride with that,” he said. “It’s definitely a stellar event. It’s the best festival we’ve ever had in our 13-year history… Overall, I think the committee as a whole has put on View the best festival in 13 years.” photos Sitting back and taking in the with ambiance – from all the sites and smells, to the “incredible” sounds on stage – Geese said or online if he closed his eyes even for a moment he’d think he was actually in the Caribbean. The annual festival takes over Memorial Peace Park and a section of 224th Street for the weekend, and looking out over the sea of people late Saturday, organizing committee member Ineke Boekhorst said she was pleasantly “shocked” by the jump in attendance. “It’s very, very busy for a Saturday,” she said, explaining that when the event started it was only a Sunday festival. Six years ago, it was expanded to encompass Saturday as well, but attendance on day one is always a lighter. “Usually, Saturdays have been the slower, but that might have evened out this year,” Boekhorst said, “shocked” by the crowds. Part of this year’s success, she said, has to be the “extremely good” weather. But it can also be attributed to “the incredible lineup of entertainment,” the always expanding activities area, an increase in vendors, and an insatiable appetite by spectators for exotic foods.
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