The New Westminster courthouse and neighbouring Douglas College campus were evacuated late Tuesday morning after police received a threat against the court.
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Police evacuated the B.C. Supreme Court at 651 Carnarvon St. and asked anyone who lives or works near the area to leave.
“We treat every threat as real until we can determine otherwise,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver of the New Westminster Police Department. He said police became aware of the threat to the courthouse at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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He refused to provide details on the nature of the threat or how police were told about it.
New Westminster police are working with the B.C. Sheriff Service and B.C. Transit Police. Police dogs and emergency response officers are also at the site, along with New West firefighters and B.C. ambulance paramedics.
Road closures were in effect around the courthouse, from 6th Street to Begbie Street and from Carnarvon to Agnes streets. “We are asking anyone to leave the area for their own safety and to co-operate with the direction from our officers,” Leaver said.
Douglas College cancelled all in-person classes and events shortly before noon, but regular operations were set to resume at 3 p.m. after police gave the all clear. Douglas’s Coquitlam campus and its space in the Anvil Centre Office Tower were not affected.
Special prosecutor appointed in case involving judge’s relative
The B.C. Prosecution Service has appointed a senior lawyer as a special prosecutor in a case involving the relative of a provincial court judge.
The alleged offence in Langford on Sept. 9, 2024, was investigated by Westshore RCMP who learned that one of the accused was related to a judge.
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Chris Johnson will provide legal advice to investigators as needed and conduct an independent assessment of the charge and will lead the prosecution.
“The appointment of a special prosecutor was made to avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice,” said the prosecution service in a statement on Tuesday.
On Oct. 30, 2024, a charge of unlawfully being in a residence was sworn against Savannah Theresa Cooke and Scott William John Munro. The pair are due back in provincial court in the Western Communities on Jan. 23.
Witnesses sought to fatal Dec. 26 crash in Cranbrook
Police in southeast B.C. continue to investigate a Boxing Day crash that left a woman dead and three others seriously injured.
The crash on Dec. 26 at about 7:30 p.m. happened on Highway 3/95 near Stropky Road in Cranbrook, when a southbound black Cadillac Escalade hit a northbound red Honda CRV.
A 64-year-old woman, the only passenger in the CRV, died, while the Honda driver and two passengers in the Escalade were seriously hurt.
The cause of the head-on crash is still under investigation, and neither speed nor impairment has been ruled out.
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“B.C. highway patrol is asking anyone who saw the events leading up to this collision to speak with us about what happened, and we are especially interested in any dash camera video,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin in a statement on Tuesday.
It was the second fatal collision in less than a week in winter conditions near Cranbrook, and McLaughlin is urging drivers to slow down, drive sober and avoid distractions.