B.C. Crime Briefs: Coquitlam RCMP warn of increase in extortion scams

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Man convicted of second-degree murder dies in prison

Gerald Leslie Dolman, who stabbed a Chilliwack man to death in 2016, died in prison on Tuesday, Correctional Service Canada said Thursday.

He was 72 years old and had been serving an indeterminate sentence since Dec. 1, 2017.

He was charged with second-degree murder after he stabbed a 49-year-old man in the 46000-block of Yale Road.

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Police believe the incident started after Dolman’s vehicle followed the victim’s car on Yale Road and that Dolman struck a cyclist while following the victim.

The two cars collided in a parking lot at which point an altercation led to the death of the victim, whose name wasn’t released.  It’s believed the two men knew each other.

Whistler police officer facing voyeurism charges

A B.C. man who is an officer with a regional Indigenous police service has been charged with voyeurism after allegedly filming sexual acts without his partners’ consent.

Sea to Sky-Whistler RCMP began investigating reports about the suspect in January 2023. On Wednesday, Michael Philip English, a Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service officer, was charged with three counts of voyeurism in the case.

The offences are alleged to havehappened while English was off duty in Pemberton and Vancouver between 2020 and 2022. There is a publication ban on the identities of the victims.

“The Sea to Sky-Whistler RCMP wants to acknowledge the individuals who came forward to provide information and were patient through this lengthy investigation,” said Sgt. Jeffrey Shore. “Our priority is the safety and well being of victims, and our team remains committed to standing with them and supporting them through the court process.”

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English is due in provincial court in North Vancouver on Oct. 2.

Coquitlam RCMP warn of increase in extortion scams

Coquitlam RCMP are warning the public about a continuing extortion scam after receiving more than 18 reports in a week.

In the scam, the perpetrators contact the victims by email claiming to have acquired compromising pictures, videos and personal information about the victim. They direct the victims to send money to a bitcoin wallet or risk having the personal information and photographs sent to their friends and family, according to the RCMP.

They also provide a photo of the victim’s house, which can be easily located on the internet, as proof that they possess the personal details of the victim.

This scam can appear convincing because the victim is contacted directly and provided with open-source personal information, said RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Alexa Hodgins.

“We want to remind the public to remain cognizant of these types of scams and to report incidents to the police immediately.”

In all of the 18 incidents, none of the victims provided money to the perpetrators, Hodgins said.

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Hodgins advised people to never give out personal information or info about your computer, and not to open email, files or links from people you don’t know and trust.

Mounties on Vancouver Island seize illicit drugs, cash and stolen merchandise

Two men have been arrested on Vancouver Island after a shoplifting spree in which they allegedly stole about $10,000 worth of merchandise.

West Shore RCMP officers allege the suspects attended multiple locations of Home Depot, London Drugs and Best Buy throughout the Capital Regional District, allegedly stealing from each store.

The men were arrested outside a business in Duncan on Sept. 12. They were later released on condition they attend court in December.

The suspects, who aren’t residents of Vancouver Island, are identified as 45 and 30 years old.

One of their homes in New Westminster was searched by police, where officers seized about $30,000 in stolen merchandise, $20,000 in stolen luxury clothing, as well as cocaine, fentanyl and hydromorphone and benzodiazepine pills.

Charges are pending.

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