Thursday, March 28, 2024

RCMP attribute spike in crime to tent city at Goldstream Park Campground

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RCMP released a statement Friday linking a spike in criminal activity and drug use in the West Shore area to the homeless campers at Goldstream Provincial Park.

Westshore RCMP Inspector Todd Preston released an extensive log of complaints and calls for service which includes a report of a break and enter attempt near the park, the discovery of a stolen vehicle outside the park, and reports of open drug use and theft of firewood.

While the suspects in the alleged break and enter attempt and stolen vehicle cases have not conclusively been traced back to tent city, Park rangers’ complaints of drug use and theft of firewood have been verified.

According to the statement released by the West Shore RCMP, they received the following calls for service between Wednesday and Friday:

  • Officers received reports of a possible attempted break and enter Wednesday morning in the 2800 block of Canyon Park Place (just outside Goldstream Provincial Park). Two males approached a neighbour’s house and when they realized someone was inside they fled on foot. The complainant believed the males were associated to the homeless campers who had just moved into Goldstream Provincial Park.
  • The West Shore Bike Unit arrested a woman who was associated with the homeless campers in Goldstream Provincial Park for an outstanding arrest warrant. She was turned over to Saanich police for a court appearance.
  • Park Rangers have also received reports from campers not associated to the tent city group, including theft from other campsites, damage to the park’s gate and more complaints of drug use in public washrooms. They also reported that some of the homeless campers had started to disturb the site looking for things to burn.

According to the release, several people from the homeless group began yelling and swearing at the officers while they were investigating the Park rangers’ complaints.

Some of them threw various items around within their own campsite, upset that police were on scene.

  • One person called the detachment asking that police provide extra patrols as “they were concerned for the safety of their children going back and forth to school and possibly coming into contact with the homeless campers.” There was no specific incident related to that complaint.
  • Officers recovered a stolen vehicle just outside Goldstream Provincial Park. There were no other details released, and no information on whether or not the theft was committed by an occupant of tent city.
  • RCMP officers were conducting an early morning sweep of the camp when they turned up several needles strewn on the ground, including an uncapped syringe.

Victoria Buzz has reached out to the RCMP multiple times for clarification on how some of the crimes listed in the press release were connected to the camp.

Camp cleanup

“Members spoke with camp leader, Ms. Brett and advised her that open drug use and negligence by having open needles around a campground was clearly not acceptable as there could be children or pets sharing this same space,” Insp. Todd Preston stated in a press release.

“She stated she agreed and her campers had picked up all of the needles at 18:30 hours the night before. She stated she would immediately have others clean up the site and pick up all of the remaining open and unopened needles that they could find.”

The West Shore RCMP said they have spoken with the BC Parks staff and indicated that they (the RCMP) will investigate all criminal matters and complaints concerning the group camp as per normal procedures.

However, they would rely on Park staff to enforce the park rules and regulations and police will assist when required.

The campground has been closed to the public and anyone with reservations will get a refund. The rest of the park is open.

Background

The Camp Namegans group were told on Wednesday that they must vacate the provincial park by Thursday, but have since been told they can stay on the grounds for two weeks.

Two weeks is the maximum length of stay in any provincial park, and is the amount of time that the homeless campers had originally planned on staying there.

The homeless camp were residing on provincial land on Ravine Way and Carey Rd before it was dismantled by Saanich police.

About two dozen of the tent city occupants moved to Goldstream Park. That number has since grown to just over 30 campers.

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Victoria Buzz Staffhttps://www.victoriabuzz.com
Your inside source for Greater Victoria happenings. Established in 2012.

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