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Were the four kidnappers who brazenly scooped up a man and his young son early Sunday afternoon posing as police officers? That appears to be the allegation, based on one of the charges faced by two suspects arrested in connection with the incident. Richmond’s Donald Ryan Stalker, 27, was taken into police custody Sunday just half a block from where the kidnapping began to unfold, and has been charged with impersonating a peace officer. He has at least four current unresolved Richmond provincial court files in his name, including charges that he failed to provide a breath sample to police, driving while his licence was suspended, and driving while prohibited. Several tenants who live in two residential condo towers that overlook the street where the drama unfolded in the middle of a sunny Sunday, said they were shocked by the kidnapping but happy it was thwarted by Richmond Mounties thanks in large part to a quick-thinking citizen. The witness called 911 after spotting four suspicious men approach another man as he was latching his young son into his SUV’s child seat near the Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport Hotel, at 3099 Corvette Way. The four suspects handcuffed the victim and forced him into the rear of the vehicle with his son, according to police. Thanks to the witness who spoke to an EComm operator and provided crucial details, Richmond Mounties raced to the scene, and were able to pull over the vehicle with the suspects and the kidnapping victims before it had moved a city block. Two men were arrested for
Martin van den Hemel photo A white Mercedes Benz SUV with all four doors open sat in the middle of this section of Corvette Way, in front of Hanna Collision, after Richmond Mounties successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt, rescuing a man and his young son early Sunday afternoon thanks to information from a concerned citizen.
kidnapping, and a handgun was recovered from the scene. Neither the victim nor his son were injured. Also charged with impersonating a peace officer was Burnaby’s
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Kidnappers face at least five years in jail under new law by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter The two men charged with kidnapping a man and his young son last weekend in downtown Richmond could be among the first charged in Canada under a recently amended section of the Criminal Code of Canada involving kidnappings. If convicted, the pair are facing a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. It was just seven weeks ago that royal assent was given to private member’s bill C-299, involving the kidnapping of a young person. “This bill will ensure that cases involving the kidnapping of children by strangers are treated with the severity they deserve,” Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Rob Nicholson said on June 26. The bill, sponsored by KootenayColumbia MP David Wilks, amends section 279 (1) of the criminal code and imposes a mandatory minimum penalty of five years imprisonment. “The protection of children across Canada is paramount.," Wilks said. The suspects are also facing a mandatory minimum of three years if they are convicted of a weaponsrelated charge. Provincial crown spokesperson Neil Mackenzie said as far as he is aware, this is the first time the new legislation has been used in B.C.
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Raymond Truong, 19. The pair were also charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement with a firearm, using a restricted/prohibited weapon to commit a robbery, and possession of a prohibited/restricted weapon.
The Richmond Review spoke to one witness, who stumbled upon the immediate aftermath of the incident as she was out walking her dog Sunday sometime after 2 p.m. “Oh, that’s what that was,” she said. She described seeing a white Mercedes Benz SUV sitting in the middle of the roadway with all of its doors open, and she could see a kid’s car seat in the back of the Mercedes. She saw officers writing notes, and numerous police cruisers. “That’s scary,” she said, after being told about the kidnapping attempt. Police remained at the scene well into the evening hours, and were seen towing vehicles, including a BMW, according to the witness. Another neighbour who saw the heavy police presence said that on Monday morning, a policeman was directing his police dog to sniff around the bushes at the foot of the residential towers, which comprise condos on top, and ground-floor townhouses that face the snaking Corvette Way, at the north end of No. 3 Road near Sea Island Way. “That’s crazy,” she said. “If it’s targeted then I’m not that worried. (But) how about if nobody saw it,” she asked. Richmond RCMP Sgt. Cam Kowalski said there’s no doubt the ending could have been tragic in this case. Investigators believe the kidnapping was targeted, but not gang related. Mounties say whenever people see something suspicious, they shouldn’t hesitate to call the police. “This was an example of some outstanding police work performed by dedicated members of the Richmond RCMP,” Kowalski said. Police have no information about the two other suspects, who remain at large, though investigators are continuing to work on the file.
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