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FRIDAY, DEC. 19, 2014 Your community. Your stories
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CONSTRUCTION & CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
40 beds? Too few, says MLA Robinson Prov. announces beds for R’view JaniS Warren
The Tri-CiTy News
Noting one in five Canadians will be diagnosed with a mental illness during their lifetime — that’s seven million people — provincial Health Minister Terry Lake announced this week plans to open 40 beds at Coquitlam’s Riverview Hospital for people with severe additions and mental illness. But of the 40 temporary beds, just 14 will be newly created spots while the other 26 will be transfers from the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction. The number of new spaces isn’t enough, said Coquitlam-Maillardville NDP MLA Selina Robinson, whose constituency includes the 102-year-old Riverview site. see VAN. IS, page A12
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Tri-City News reader Michellene Hing Sigurdson submitted this photo taken at the Port Moody West Coast Express station, writing, “Construction workers for the Evergreen Line demonstrating their creative thinking skills by designing and building this Christmas tree. Kudos to them and a Merry Christmas.”
CRIME IN THE TRI-CITIES
Tues. incident may have begun with sex assaults Coquitlam man charged with several offences Sarah Payne
The Tri-CiTy News
A Coquitlam man accused of assaulting a Heritage Mountain homeowner and then carjacking a woman’s vehicle to evade
police on Tuesday has now been charged with sexual assault and break and enter. And in a shocking twist, Port Moody Police report the suspect’s crime spree allegedly started with the sexual assault of two women walking in Aspenwood Park early Monday morning. Shortly after midnight on Dec. 15, two women, described as young adults,
were walking on the trails in the park near the Heritage Mountain community hall when a man asked them for directions. After a brief conversation, the women began to walk away. The man allegedly attacked the women from behind, knocking one to the ground, then pulled a knife as the women struggled to fight him off. The suspect stole a purse
from one of the women, which contained her keys and identification, and fled the area. The two women received minor injuries during the struggle. At about 8:10 a.m. Tuesday, a man went to the victim’s house on Birchwood Crescent brandishing a firearm, according to the PMPD. A fight ensued between the suspect and homeowner, who was able
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to fend off the attack. The homeowner suffered minor injuries in the struggle and was treated in hospital. Police believe it is possible the suspect used the stolen identification to target the victim’s home. “Understandably, it’s been a very traumatic event for the entire family,” said Const. Luke van Winkel. see CAR WAS, page A4
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A Facebook photo of Vahidreza ‘David’ Bordbar, the 31-year-old Coquitlam resident charged in connection with an assault Tuesday morning in Port Moody.
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