Sumara Stands Out
WEDNESDAY April 8, 2015 • www.langleytimes.com COMMUNITY The Value of Volunteers
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Rifles, cocaine, cash seized in Whitehorse raid ALDERGROVE’S 856 GANG E XPAN DIN G ITS TERRITORY, SAY YUKON POL ICE M Y LES D O L P H I N Bla ck Pre s s
a bullet-proof vest and several bags filled with ammunition covered a large table. The RCMP seizure of weapons, drugs There were also bags filled with Caand cash during a March 16 raid that nadian currency, although MacLeod targeted several locations in the Yukon did not confirm has a strong conhow much. nection to Langley. She did say the The bust is part of cocaine representan ongoing effort to ed between 45 and disrupt organized 90 individual sales, crime in Whiteif left uncut. horse, said Cpl. “But usually Calista MacLeod. drugs are cut with “We’re very aware all sorts of quesof the harm that tionable things so drugs and violence it could potentially do to our commube much more than nities,” she said that,” she said. during a news conSome of the items ference on WednesCPL. CALISTA MACLEOD were clearly relatday. ed to the 856 gang, “This investigaincluding a pair of black T-shirts with tion was focused on disrupting the the number emblazoned on the front. suppliers who bring drugs into our The gang, originally from Langley, communities, not just catching it after took its name from the prefix of phone it gets here.” numbers in the municipality’s comReporters were invited to view the munity of Aldergrove. Senior members seized materials at the Whitehorse can be identified by the numbers tatRCMP building on Wednesday aftertooed inside their lip. noon. Three rifles, four handguns, a Taser, Continued Page 4
This investigation was focused on disrupting the suppliers who bring drugs into our communities.
J OE L KR A HN B lack Pre s s
An RCMP officer in Whitehorse, Yukon, displays a collection of weapons, drugs and money that was seized during a March 16 raid in the territory’s capital city. Police say the bust targeted members of the 856 gang, which has its roots in Aldergrove but has expanded into northern B.C., Alberta, the Yukon and Northwest Territories over the past decade
Two-year sentence for killing of Kwantlen elder MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter
Michele Serdar will serve two years in jail for shooting and killing highly respected Kwantlen First Nation elder George Antone. Serdar, now 43, was led away to jail after being sentenced in Surrey Provincial Court on Thursday. Many of Antone’s family, including his son, daughter-in-law, and siblings, as well as members of Kwantlen First Nation, including Chief Marilyn Gabriel, were in court to hear the verdict. Judge Peder Gulbransen said this crime is “heart breaking” and he found the victim impact statements ‘very moving.’ “They bring home what a terrible loss this
is for the community,” Gulbransen said. He went on to say that Antone was a “much loved and highly respected man. Crimes like this are like a wave of water. There is great sorrow, anger, fear and strong feelings of betrayal of the accused,” said Gulbransen. Serdar was also given three years probation, including having no contact with anyone in the Kwantlen band and also not to go on McMillan Island. It was suggested she should go into a drug rehabilitation home upon her release. But the judge said he can’t force her to, she must want to. Serdar has chosen instead to return to the family farm in Abbotsford and live with
her mom upon her release. time of the killing on March 5, She is also to stay away from 2011, was a ‘raging addict’ of alcohol, drugs and weapons. crack cocaine and was wantShe must also take medication ing to buy drugs but had no for her bipolar disorder. money the night of Antone’s Two years in jail was agreed death. upon by both Crown counsel Crown counsel Wendy Steand defense for the charge of phen said Serdar went over manslaughter. She declined to to Antone’s home, where she say anything in court. often cleaned, and shot him Days before the murder, Andead with his own shotgun. GEOR GE tone, a residential school surShe then robbed his home of ANTONE vivor, had gone to the bank all his money, covered him in Fort Langley and withdrew with a blanket, put his boots around $500. Some in the community were beside him and locked up behind her. aware of this. Continued Page 4 The court learned that Serdar, 39, at the