Dec 15 - VicPD officer accused in alleged sexual affair

Good morning !

The Island’s health authority has opened a secured space for people to inhale illicit drugs. It’s right next to Our Place on Pandora, and the story is below.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Suspended VicPD officer accused of sexual exploitation, grooming, and blackmail

The allegations made by a young woman in an online video are the same ones being formally investigated, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) confirmed to CHEK this week. VicPD announced Tuesday one of its officers was suspended based on new information, which the OPCC delegated to Vancouver police. No details on the officer or allegations were provided.

Multiple allegations made in TikTok video
The speaker says she met the officer at age 15 and dated his son. She says he worked with her with her struggles, including addiction, trouble with the law, and living on the street, and that they reconnected in 2022 when she was sober. 

The accuser says in 2023, this evolved into sexual conversations while on duty—in which she overheard police information—and later sex that he taped to ensure she would not tell his family. She says he had similar material from others. She also claims his son had sexually assaulted her, and that the officer did not advise her to report it when told. When she reported these allegations, other officers mocked and dismissed her, she alleges.

None of the allegations has been proven or tested in court, and the investigation is ongoing. 

Latest bout of controversy for VicPD
Earlier this fall, the IIO recommended charges against an officer for the fatal shooting of a man in crisis in 2021. The department was among those named in a criminal probe into troubling conduct at a Vancouver training session and in a proposed class-action suit brought by female officers on sexual harassment on BC forces.

Last month, VicPD proposed its new budget to the councils, seeking an increase of 6.9% (to $72M) or 9.8% pending a provincial decision.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Hartland Landfill: Tipping fee changes and new material bans beginning Jan. 2.

Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee Survey now live for Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Esquimalt, Highlands, Sooke, and Metchosin residents. Survey closes Jan. 31.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Illicit drug inhalation site opens on Pandora: ‘first’ in North America

Island Health has opened a permanent, indoor, illicit drug-inhalation site on Pandora that it calls the first of its kind on the continent. The new inhalation space, which is nestled in the same building as The Harbour Supervised Consumption Service at 941 Pandora, “is the first of its size, fully enclosed, indoor inhalation site of its kind in North America,” Island Health said in a release.

The new indoor digs replace a temporary, outdoor inhalation facility at 926 Pandora, which has been a busy place since it opened in late 2021.

“The unpredictable poisoned drug supply continues to take lives at a tragic, unacceptable rate across BC, including in Victoria,” said Jennifer Whiteside, the mental health and addictions minister. “More than half of the people who are dying consumed toxic drugs by smoking.”

Some 130 people in Greater Victoria were among the more than 2K drug-related deaths in BC over the first 10 months of the year, according to Island Health.

The inhalation site opened Monday, but officials wanted a couple of days’ overlap with the outdoor site, which averaged 700 visits per week. The indoor site will keep the same hours—8am to 7pm—and will accommodate up to 24 clients at a time.

The enclosed consumption room has six metal-surfaced tables with source-capture hood fans hanging above to suck up the smoke. Using the latest technology, the air is filtered to a powerful HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system located in another part of the building. Island Health said it has renovated the building to make the air safe for staff, clients, and members of the public, and it has minimized noise levels.

Take a video tour of the site here.

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Brought to you by What Do You Meme? Family, a Relatable brand.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🇺🇦 Faces of Ukraine: Photo-essays of the fallen at Christ Church Cathedral.

🛏️ Can’t sleep? If you’re ready to improve your sleep routines, Tall Tree’s change coaches can help. The journey to a great night’s sleep starts now.* 

🤝 Now hiring: Executive Director at Capital Bike.

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🗞️ In Other News

Nanaimo man pleads guilty to stabbing Vic. mom to death
Denise Allick, 41, a nurse and mother of a 12-year-old boy, was stabbed six times and died last June 20. Simon Baker, then 21, says he did it. The two did not know each other. A hearing will be held to determine Baker’s mental state at the time of the crime. [Nanaimo News Now]

CHEK reporter’s podcast hits it big on Amazon
Tchadas Leo’s Our Native Land, which explores Indigenous and First Nations issues, has made it onto Amazon Music’s “Best Canadian Podcast of the Year” list, alongside 19 other podcasts. More than 100 episodes have aired since it premiered in late 2020. [CHEK]

Thieves in Saanich steal new shop owner’s Christmas dream
One of Colleen Clare’s lifelong goals was to own a gift shop. But only nine days after she opened Fern and Crow, some Grinch broke into her storage container and turned it and her world upside down. She says it’s not worth filing an insurance claim because of the deductible. [Times Colonist]

‘Charlie Brown’ Christmas tree is the talk of BC legislature 
Even all decked out in lights, the 28-foot, 30-year-old Western White Pine appears less robust than previous Christmas trees adorning the legislature. But the story behind it is this is the 53rd yuletide tree donated by the Fleming family, who run Saanichton Christmas Tree Farm. [CTV]

SPONSORED BY OUTWAY

Find the perfect gift at the OUTWAY pop-up store

The Outway pop-up store is officially open for the holidays.

Shop a variety of performance socks and athletic accessories at unbeatable prices until Dec 31.

Find the perfect gift today, visit 123-3671 Uptown Blvd. (Uptown Centre, across from Browns Social House)

Plan your visit today!

🗓️ Things to do

🎺 The Attila Fias Quartet: Hear new, imaginative renditions of cherished Christmas classics, fresh versions of favourite jazz standards and Attila’s own electrifying compositions. 7pm. Doors at 5:30. [Sold out]

🎸 Caleb Hart & Co. With OurGlassZoo and TK the Artist. Tonight. Capital Ballroom. 7pm. [Info]

🎷 Big Hank's Christmas Blues Show: Tunes inspired by listening to B.B. King and Eric Clapton. Charlie White Theatre. Tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎹 Laila Biali Wintersongs: The Canadian singer and pianist will perform original songs and classic tunes. McPherson Playhouse. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎲 GAME: PLAY, a brand new indie-produced shadow puppet and improv show about games and wonder opens Dec. 7 at the Belfry. Come and play.*

🎤 London Calling at Hermann’s Upstairs: A tribute to The Clash, The Who, The Kinks and British Mod. Hermann’s Upstairs. Tonight. 8:30pm. Doors at 7pm. [Tickets]

🎸 WE3: Classic Rock: They play rockin' blues, classic rock covers. Metchosin Golf & Country Club. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🎶 Handel's Messiah: The Victoria Symphony will perform the classic Handel concert at Farquhar at UVic. Tonight. 7:30pm.

*Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Mayor asks staff to rework 2024 budget; Victoria council considers Pandora WC; Carnival Panorama back at Ogden, and more. [Dec. 14] 

$20K in nicked necklaces: Westshore RCMP looking for jewel thief.

Video: Sensational sunrise seen in Oak Bay.

That’s it!

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