Tuesday March 27, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 25))
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Cowichan clipped: The Surrey Eagles are soaring into nto the second round of BC Hockey League ague playoffs after Brandon Tanev’s overtime goal Saturday propelled the Eagles gles past the Cowichan Valley Capitals. see page ge 39
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Crescent Park neighbours hear commotion in convenience-store parking lot
Street altercation leads to hit-and-run Dan Ferguson Staff Reporter
An altercation outside a corner store near Crescent Park Friday night has left one man seriously injured and another facing charges related to a hit-and-run. Surrey RCMP say the two men – both local residents who knew each other but whom police aren’t identifying publicly –
had arranged to meet that evening in the parking lot of a small convenience store at 128 Street and 25 Avenue. At around 9 p.m., the two got into a violent confrontation, police said, and as one man drove away, he hit the other with his vehicle. The victim, 49, was transported to hospital by helicopter from Elgin Park Secondary.
Police conducted an air search and – after a suspect called police – a 25-year-old was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident. He may face other charges, police said. Crescent Park Market owner Keith Ro said a shocked customer who witnessed the incident told him that what began as a physical confrontation ended with one man striking the other with his car, then driving away.
“They were arguing, then they hit each other,” Ro said. Ro showed a Peace Arch News reporter where the fight took place, pointing out where apparent blood stains remained on the pavement. When the vehicle hit the man, the impact made a loud noise, according to a neighbour. see page 4
Lawyers may testify
Bowers reverses porn plea Dan Ferguson Staff Reporter
Curtis Kreklau photo
Emergency crews respond to a chemical spill at the Tong Louie YMCA in Panorama Ridge, where a vapour cloud was visible in the parking lot.
Parking lot incident cuts into spring break events
Hazardous-material spill evacuates YMCA Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Spring-break programs were disrupted at the Tong Louie YMCA in Surrey for much of last weekend, after a hazardous-materials spill in the parking lot Friday afternoon led to the evacuation of the facility. YMCA communications manager Kelly Walker said there were no injuries sustained from the
spill of muriatic acid – a highly corrosive hydrogen chloride-based solution used for cleaning pools. She said the incident occurred when a delivery truck bringing chlorine products to the Panorama Ridge “Y” stopped in the parking lot and began to leak onto the pavement. “The leak was confined to the parking lot, but staff took the necessary safety precautions and evacuated the building,” Walker said.
Surfside Flooring March 30 - April 1 SEE US AT THE HOME & GARDEN EXPO
15229 RUSSELL AVENUE, WHITE ROCK • 604-538-2733 www.surfsideflooring.ca
Booths #7, 8 & 9 Centennial Park Leisure Centre
Walker was unable to give an estimate of how many people were evacuated. The facility has indoor pools, gyms and fitness equipment, as well as meeting rooms. The incident was attended by the Surrey Fire Services hazmat squad, and police cordoned off the area. The “Y” re-opened 7 a.m. Sunday, the final day before students returned to school.
A South Surrey man has gone to court to withdraw his guilty plea on charges of possessing and accessing child pornography. Douglas Wayne Bowers filed an affidavit to support his application in Surrey Provincial Court last Wednesday. The next day, while Bowers watched from the visitors gallery, his new lawyer, Robert Doran, and prosecutor Jodie Harris appeared before Judge Douglas Bowers Michael Hicks ‘not guilty’ to work out how the matter will proceed. Because the hearing of the application will review the process that led to Bowers’ guilty plea in December 2010, it is possible that Harris and Bowers’ former defence lawyer, Gordon Welock, could be called to give evidence, the court was told. Harris said that may mean another Crown lawyer would have to take over the case. see page 2
$Border $ $ $ $ $Gold $ $ $wants $ $ $ $ Your $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $Best $ $ $Prices $ $ $ $ $–$Best $ $ $Service! $$$$$$
SCRAP GOLD 15234 NORTH BLUFF RD. WHITE ROCK 604-535-3287 www.bordergold.com Monday–Friday 9–5, Saturday 10-4
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$