WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1 2017
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BRIGHT LIGHTS 12
Year of the Rooster
Lunar New Year celebrations around the North Shore
LIVING 14
Edible Gardener Cold season may have consequences
TASTE 19
Narrows Public House North Vancouver restaurant serves up classic pub culture
NORTHSHORENEWS
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COURTS: DRUG CHARGES
Fentanyl dealer sentenced to 14 years in prison
North Vancouver man nets lengthy jail term for trafficking deadly opioid JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
A provincial court judge has handed a North Vancouver fentanyl dealer an unprecedented 14-year jail sentence, saying dealing a dangerous drug that results in serious harm to the community must carry a stiff penalty.
On Monday, Judge Bonnie Craig handed the lengthy jail term to Walter James McCormick, 53, in Richmond provincial court after McCormick pleaded guilty to five drug charges. Those included one charge of trafficking fentanyl in North Vancouver and four charges of possessing drugs, including fentanyl, for the purpose of trafficking in North Vancouver, Langley and Richmond. In handing down her sentence, Craig acknowledged the lengthy jail term went beyond the usual sentence for drug trafficking and that McCormick “did not create the problem with opioid addiction in the community.” But she added there are times when the conditions in the
See Investigation page 11
West Van police tied up with all-day crime spree BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
Two people are facing a slew of charges after what West Vancouver police are calling a crime spree unlike any other they’ve seen before.
Officers spent much of the day Saturday on the trail of a couple now accused of robbery, multiple car thefts, dangerous driving, theft, evading police and possession of stolen property. The ordeal began just before noon when someone alerted Squamish RCMP to a suspicious-looking couple in a Mercedes in Lions Bay. When officers arrived, the Benz had been ditched and an older Oldsmobile was reported stolen. Expecting the suspects to come through town, West Vancouver officers began their hunt, said Const. Jeff Palmer, West Vancouver police spokesman.
See Hunt page 7
UPLIFTING PLAY Reid Tucker of Capilano Rugby Club’s premier men’s team gets the upper hand during a 17-15 win over the University of Victoria to open the 2017 season Saturday at Klahanie Park. Capilano will travel to UBC to play the two-time defending champion Thunderbirds this weekend. See our story page 22. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH
CELEBRATING NINETY YEARS