More than 460 charges laid against 34 youths in Edmonton
EDMONTON A 46-year-old woman is violently kicked in the back and sent flying down the stairs at Belvedere LRT station in a random early morning attack.
Two youths are beaten after being swarmed by a group of nearly three dozen assailants at Century Park LRT station.
A 16-year-old is jumped by a group of six youths while walking home from school in a failed personal robbery.
All three cases are part of an Edmonton city police investigation that has resulted in more than 460 charges being laid against close to three dozen male youths and young adults in a series of violent crimes dating back to early 2017.
Police announced the charges against 34 males Wednesday in relation to the crimes, which occurred throughout the LRT system, shopping malls and recreation centres.
Investigators believe 12 of the 34 individuals accused were prolific offenders and were involved in a majority of the incidents.
The accused are aged between 13 and 18.
“This has been an extensive, time-consuming investigation into criminal activities that have left a path of victimization across our city,” southwest division Supt. Tom Pallas said.
“We want the public to know that police and its partners, including Edmonton Transit, are taking action to support public safety across the city.
“Many of these individuals have been arrested, gone through the court system and rearrested by our officers, after being released on bail — in some cases — within hours.”
Among the charges the youths face include aggravated assault, robbery, possession of stolen credit cards, shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance.
Thirty-two of the males cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, as they are all under the age of 18.
The remaining two accused are adults, but were not 18 at the time they committed the alleged offences, and therefore they also cannot be named under the act.