Vancouver anti-Olympic protesters escape criminal punishment criminal, charged, several, escape, people

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Vancouver anti-Olympic protesters escape criminal punishment
So far, none


VANCOUVER — Although police charged several individuals after anti-Olympic protests got violent in 2010, so far all of the accused have escaped criminal punishment.

During the first few days of the 2010 Games, a group of protesters mostly dressed in black and wearing masks, clashed violently with police. They spray-painted cars, vandalized buses and smashed store windows.

Of the seven people criminally charged in those incidents, one person’s case is still before the courts, two had their charges dismissed because of inadequate evidence, two agreed to alternative justice measures and two received conditional sentences after pleading guilty, said Neil MacKenzie, communications counsel with the criminal justice branch.

So far, none of the cases has resulted in a person receiving a criminal record.

Just one of the seven was charged with mischief; the remainder were charged as a result of one-on-one confrontations with police.

MacKenzie said he doesn’t want to speculate if charges laid as a result of last week’s Stanley Cup riot will result in more serious consequences.

“Looking back at the previous Stanley Cup riot in 1994, sentences imposed there ... included sentences of up to around a year in jail, with 15 or 16 individuals receiving jail sentences. At the other end of the scale, there were a number of individuals who also received conditional discharges,” MacKenzie said.

He said the outcome will depend on what actions can be proven, how serious the actions are and what part they played in the overall disturbance.

“The Olympic protests did not involve fires being set or vehicles being flipped over,” MacKenzie said. “Clearly, in looking at the situation that occurred last week, we’re dealing with a situation that was much more chaotic in terms of the scale, in terms of the number of people involved and in terms of the general disorder.”

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Charges of mischief over $5,000 against the alleged ringleader of the Olympic protest were dropped because of insufficient evidence. At the time of his arrest, police said the man used an air horn to tell others to feel free to vandalize.

“He then led the group on a march that included the spray-painting of vehicles, the breaking of windows, the looting of a ladder from London Drugs, and other damage,” a Vancouver police department 2010 news release stated.

“The Crown ultimately concluded that the evidence did not provide a substantial likelihood of conviction, so that charge was stayed in January of this year,” MacKenzie said. One other case was also dropped because of insufficient evidence.

Two other people, originally charged with assault, had their charges stayed when they agreed to alternative justice measures, which are consequences such as apologizing, paying restitution or performing community work, that can be used when a person accepts responsibility for their actions, MacKenzie said.

Willow Violet Louise Riley, 18 in 2010, is charged with assaulting a peace officer, a case which is still before the courts. Riley’s next appearance is this Friday, to set a trial date.

In two other cases, the accused pleaded guilty, and were given conditional discharges.

“If the person complies with the probation terms that are imposed, then the conditional discharge becomes absolute so they are not left with a criminal record,” MacKenzie said.

A demonstrator faces police during anti-Olympic protests February 2010 in Vancouver where protesters clashed with police as they smashed windows, kicked cars and threw objects in downtown. Riot police moved in to break up the protest, with several demonstrators arrested


Police detain a demonstrator in downtown Vancouver during a protest against the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 13, 2010. Protesters left a trail of vandalism as they made their way through downtown Saturday morning.