Police probe ‘horrific’ Surrey street battle
Suspects seen as having potential gang link
Police in Surrey are investigating a chaotic street battle involving car and foot chases and an assault in Newton on Saturday night.
Video of the incident near 135A St. and 88 Ave. has turned up on various online sites.
The footage shows one person struck by a vehicle as other cars chase each other. Passengers hop out of one of the vehicles and pursue others on foot, running in and out of yards and jumping over fences.
One person captured on a home’s surveillance video looks like he is carrying a gun. Another has a black batonlike item.
Surrey Coun. Linda Annis said the brazen battle shown on the video is “absolutely horrific.”
“You could be out walking and be right in the line of fire,” she said. “We have to get a grip on this. We have to get it fixed.”
Surrey RCMP Cpl. Elenore Sturko said police got several 911 calls from area residents about 7:45 p.m. Saturday concerned about cars crashing into each other, as well as the street fight.
“Upon arrival, officers located three males who were involved in the incident. All three males were transported to hospital, two with minor injuries and one with serious injuries,” she said.
“Two vehicles were also located at the scene, a Nissan Maxima and a Ford Taurus. Both vehicles have been seized as part of the ongoing investigation.”
Sturko said investigators think those involved know each other and may be linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.
“The investigation is ongoing and investigators are looking for the other individuals and vehicles, a red Dodge Caravan, a black Volkswagen Jetta and a burgundy Honda Accord, involved in this event,” Sturko said.
Despite what looks like a shot being fired in one of the videos, Sturko said police have confirmed there was no gunfire.
“Investigators are aware of videos of this incident that are circulating on social media and ask if anyone has video of the incident or has information about this event or the individuals involved, to please contact them,” she said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum did not respond to a request for comment on the disturbing incident.
Annis said Surrey needs more officers to “patrol effectively”.
She said Surrey has fewer than three officers per square kilometre, while Vancouver has 12.
“We’re spending a lot of time and energy on creating our own police department, but the simple fact is that whether we have the RCMP, or our own Surrey Police Department, we’re short about 300 officers for a city of our size,” Annis said.
“But changing the badge isn’t going to change the problem. We need to be able to get these young people before they actually get involved in this kind of lifestyle and provide some help to them and their family so they don’t go in this direction.”
She said communities across the region have to work together to deal with the violence.
“It seems to be happening everywhere right now,” Annis said. “We need to work collaboratively throughout the Lower Mainland to get a better handle on the problem and come up with some solutions to get the kids on the right track.