460 charges laid against dozens of teens in Edmonton LRT crime spree
Police release surveillance images of assaults; mayor says system is safe
More than 460 charges have been laid against 34 teens who were using Edmonton's LRT system to carry out a months-long crime spree which included kicking a woman down the stairs at a transit station in a random attack.
"Officers have responded to close to 90 criminal events involving 66 complainants, some of whom are now dealing with very serious internal and facial injuries," Edmonton police Supt. Tom Pallassaid Wednesday.
While two of the young people charged are 18 years old,the others are between 13 and 17.
The crimes, which happened between January 2017 and March 2018,included personal robberies, thefts and mischief incidents, all committed by groups of young people.
The teensfacea long list of charges including aggravated assault, robbery, weapons offences, credit card fraud, shoplifting, mischiefand possession of a controlled substance.
"I'm hoping this is a wake-up call to all of these teens that wereinvolved in this," Pallas said. "If you're going to show such contempt and disrespect for our community and the law, you'll be held to account for these actions."
During a news conference Wednesday, police released some of the surveillance footage gathered during their investigation.
One of the videos, from Jan. 14, 2018, shows theviolent attack on a woman atthe Belvedere LRT Station.
The woman can be seen stepping intoview of the security camerabefore she iskicked in the back and fallsface-first down the stairs, suffering serious injuries.
Another video showswhat police describeas a"swarming" incident. Two teens used social media to create a flash mobat the Century Park LRT station, leading up to the attackon two male teens, Pallas said.
"People show up and then it's just a mass of people running around the area, kind of a mob mentality," he said.
One of the victims was taken to hospital with serious injuries following the assault. The twosuspects have since been charged with assault causing bodily harm.
Investigators believe 12 of the 34 individuals areprolific offenders who were involved in a majority of the incidents.
"Many of these individuals have been arrested, gone through the court system and re-arrested by our officersafter being releasedon bail,in some cases within hours," Pallas said.
Some of the suspects were students who attended a variety of schools, he said.
The crimes werereported at Belvedere, Southgate and Century Park LRT stations, at convenience and grocery stores, and the Clareview, Terwillegar and Saville recreation centres.
'The system is safe'
Mayor Don Iveson was shocked to see the video, but is glad that there is video of the "awful behaviour" in the first place.
"The footage itself is part of, I understand, what has helped to apprehend the people responsible for this," he said. "So people, at least, can be reassured that there are eyes on the system at all times, and that creates accountability."
The mayor said the 120,000 people who ride the LRT every day are safe, and these violent incidents are the exception.
"In this case, the cameras worked, the system worked, the police did their jobs, and so farpeople have been, so far at least, apprehended and hopefully held to account.
"Overall the system is safe."
City council has increased resources to peace and police officers since a 2015 pilot project. Iveson said time will tell if more support is necessary, adding that crime trends are monitored to determine howresources are allotted.
"All we've seen today is that the people were caught. That shows that the system works," he said. "And, again, we'll look for advice from our security experts and the police on whether changes are needed, in terms of personnel or more cameras."
Frightenedand flabbergasted
Matthew Stepanic takes the LRT two to three times a weekand, after watching the security video, feels uneasy aboutridingthe train.
"I'm a little bit flabbergasted that something like that would occur," he said.
Stepanic said raising awareness and increasing police presence in isolated areas might help prevent situations like this. It won't deter him from taking the LRT, but he'll be more aware of his surroundings.
"I'll be more watchful when I'm actually on the train and probably looking twice at people who are around," he said.
Jorden Umpherville, 24, takes the LRT three times a week to her classes at MacEwan University. She was shocked at the video's violence.
"Why would you ever do that? That's horrible!
"It makes me really upset and I want to know who the hell did that," she said.
Umpherville said there are ways to protect yourself when using theLRT system.
"Watch out what stations you're using, what time you're using it at," she said. "Make sure people know where you are in case you do pass out or something really bad happens. And just be aware."
City council should create new policies with police, Umpherville added.
"I haven't seen very many officers at the LRT stations myself, but I know that they are there at some point. Maybe [the city] could increase that as well."
Amanda Steinkey has been taking the LRT for the past four years.
"That's kind of frightening actually to see that that's happening on public transit, because we take public transit to be safeand as an alternative to driving," she said.
Steinkey said an awareness campaign and more officers on patrol would make a difference.
"I definitely have seen stuff that's questionable on the LRT, and drivers don't do anything, other passengers won't say anything," she said. "So I think we need to have the right people in place to help out with that."
Warren Uhrich said it's hard to be surprised.
"I don't think there's a lot you can do to prevent that, as unsettling as it is that that can occur," he said, though he added a stronger security presence could be a deterrant.
Diana Bull said she hopes the woman in the video is OK.
"That's so disrespectful," she said. "And they need more security then. Everywhere."
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