A14
WEDNESDAY, March 31, 2021
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
LOCAL NEWS
DAVE EAGLES/KTW Brandon Fontaine rests outside the downtown storage facility for the city’s homeless population. The storage facility is run in partnership between the City of Kamloops and the Aboriginal Friendship Society and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days per week, except on statutory holidays. The building offers laundry service, mail pickup, storage bins, showers, harm-reduction services and client advocacy and supports.
Security and those who live on city streets MICHAEL POTESTIO
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
michael@kamloopsthisweek.com
T
hose who are part of Kamloops’ homeless population say their interactions with security guards around a city storage facility for the homeless on West Victoria Street are generally cordial — though some in uniform could stand to be more considerate and personable. Kamloops Mounties are investigating after a video surfaced showing a security guard kicking a man who was on the ground in a space next to the storage facility at West Victoria Street and First Avenue. The incident occurred on March 17. The video, which surfaced online and was shown on CFJC-TV’s website, shows about 25 seconds of an altercation between a man in a red jacket and a Lapper security guard, who appeared to be ordering the man out of a no-loitering area. The man is heard swearing at the secuSALES & INSTALLATIONS rity guard.
The security guard then appears to wrestle the man to the ground, stand up and kick him three times while he’s on the ground. Amidst the scuffle, obscenities such as, “You mother f**ker” and “I’ll beat the f**k out of you” can be heard. A bystander then approaches the guard from the rear and the guard tells the bystander to back off. The man on the ground gets up and tells the guard, “You’ve got no right to touch me like that” and the woman filming the video from across the street yells, “That is not OK” before the clip ends. Kamloops RCMP Const. Crystal Evelyn said police initially responded to the assault at about 5:15 p.m. on March 17 and have since gathered more video of the incident. “At the time, police were informed that a security guard had been spat at and pushed by an unknown man, resulting in the guard taking physical action,” Evelyn said, noting that officers attended, spoke to those in the area and patrolled the area. The man involved in the altercation with the security guard was not found, but
CLEANWATER 4 LIFE CLEANWATER 4 LIFE GREG KAROWAY GREG KAROWAY (250) 819-2117
CLEANWATER • Chlorine Removal (250) 819-2117 • UV / RO Systems 4 LIFE • Chlorine Removal • Water Softeners
has been identified by police, who are trying to find him. PROBLEMS RARE, BUT COMMUNICATION COULD IMPROVE People can often be found hanging out in that no-loitering area at the side of the storage facility and KTW spoke with five such homeless individuals, asking about their experiences with security patrolling that spot. Michael Roy, 38, who has lived along the Thompson River for the past seven years, said he hangs out in the no-loitering area every day. He said there is generally an understanding between Lapper security guards and the homeless to move along when they come by, but noted guards tend not to bother people unless they’re blocking the sidewalk. He said there can be miscommunication at times, however, with security telling people to move out of that area when, in fact, the reason they are there isn’t to simply loiter, but to charge their cellphones or wait to use the facility’s showers. “It’s supposed to be a safe place where I
SALES & INSTALLATIONS
• UV / RO Systems • Filtering Systems • Water Softeners cleanwater2017@gmail.com SALES & INSTALLATIONS • Filtering Systems cleanwater2017.ca
GREG KAROWAY
250.819.2117 (250) 819-2117
cleanwater2017@gmail.com
ALL GREEN
•Custom Fabrication • Mobile Welding • Aluminum • Steel • Pressure Pipe
CALL OR TEXT FOR A FREE QUOTE
ZERO EMISSIONS, LOW VIBRATION & NOISE, NO GAS, FOLDS FLAT
MOWERS, BLOWERS, TRIMMERS & MORE!
can come and feel safe that I don’t have to leave, because everywhere we go out here in the community, we’re told to hurry up and get out,” Roy said. He feels Lapper security guards tend to lump everyone who hangs out in that spot into the same group of troublemakers, suggesting they should be more considerate of everyone. He said the way people are told to move along is key, too, adding that, at times, vulgar language is used. “If I tell you to get the f**k out of here, that’s not very nice, right?” Roy said. “But, you know what, everybody has a bad day. Same thing with people on the street. Their language gets vulgar more times than not.” He suggested Lapper hire someone who has lived on the street to help improve communication with the homeless. “It’s hard for people to listen to somebody who hasn’t lived that life,” Roy said. While his interactions with Lapper are cordial, Roy said he has had disagreements regarding their jurisdiction along the route outside businesses.
See OUTSIDE, A15
Join our Crew Concrete finishing/ forming/demo & more.
NEW! MUST SEE! EGOPOWERPLUS.COM 1794C KELLY DOUGLAS RD DL 30329
250-377-4320
Prolinekamloops@gmail.com