The RCMP confirmed that Parkland officers had transported the man accused of killing two men in Chinatown last month to Edmonton just days before the killings.
Justin Bone, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of Ban Fuq Hoang, 61, and Hung Trang, 64, on May 18.
Insp. Mike Locken of the Parkland Squad issued a written statement on the decision made by officers on May 15.
He wrote that officers were sent to a home in the Alberta Beach area after receiving a complaint about threats at the home.
“The owner said Mr Bone could no longer stay at home. As Mr. Bone was on condition not to travel to Edmonton without being escorted by the owner of the house in Alberta Beach, RCMP staff tried to contact Mr. Bone’s probation officer to discuss alternative arrangements. but they could not be achieved, “Loken said.
“The staff, after consulting with their boss, decided that the best course of action was to take Mr Bone to an area where support and services were available to him, and he was left near a social services center in the west. end of Edmonton so that he can easily access these services. Officers told Edmonton police about their actions.
The Edmonton Police Department confirmed that they had contacted the RCMP.
“On Sunday, May 15, 2022, EPS was informed that a man with conditions not to be in Edmonton was transported to Edmonton by the RCMP. The subject was not identified during the call, “EPS spokesman Landis Reichle said in a written statement to CTV News Edmonton.
“We understand that the topic was left in West Edmonton by a member of the RCMP. The RCMP sent a message to EPS identifying the subject as Justin Bone after he was removed. “
Reichle said EPS members spoke to Bone that day after receiving a call from a complainant, but once it was established that no crime had been committed, they had no reason to detain him.
“He was advised to keep the balance of the conditions imposed on him and to discuss any changes with his probation officer.
Loken said Mountis contacted Bone’s probation officer on May 16.
“Officers were able to confirm that communication had taken place between Mr Bone and his probation officer and that Mr Bone had worked with his probation officer to get the support he needed,” he said.
TRAGEDY IN CHINESE TOWN
Two days later, Bone was arrested in connection with the deaths of Hoang and Trang.
The two men were beaten to death in separate attacks in the Chinatown on May 18.
According to police and his boss, on May 18, 2022, an Albert employee was the victim of a serious attack.
Bone was detained near Albert’s body on Avenue 106 and 98 after being followed by a private security guard after the beating of Trang.
In addition to being charged with murder, he is charged with robbery and non-compliance with a release order.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 17 at 9 am in connection with the charges.
He has a long criminal record and has been charged and convicted repeatedly for disobeying court orders.
Mounties says a review of the actions taken by employees on May 15 is now underway.
“Our hearts are heavy for the family and friends of Hung Trang and Ban Fuq Hoang, and our thoughts are with them as we move through this terrible tragedy,” Loken said.
EPS also offered its condolences.
“The tragedy of the events following our interaction on 15 May with Mr Bone has not been lost to EPS, and we continue to send our condolences to the two men’s families as they cope with the loss of their loved ones,” Reichle wrote.
PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN
The killing of the two men took place days before Justice Minister Tyler Shandro invoked the Police Act on May 26 and ordered Edmonton to draw up a public safety plan. Amarjit Sohi handed over the plan to the province on Thursday, along with a promise to make Chinatown safer.
On May 30, he noted that he was seeking cooperation from the province and the federal government to ensure that people would not be released from medical or correctional facilities without a place to go.
“This is something we will have to work with with both the provincial and federal governments,” Sohi said. “The reality is that when people are released from prison, yes, they have run out of time, but there must be a transition so that they do not end up on the streets.
COMMUNITY REACTION
On Friday, Sohi responded to the news that Bone had been brought to Edmonton by the RCMP in a written statement.
“It is clear that the Alberta judiciary and police have failed our two members of the community: Hung Trang and Ban Fuq Hoang and their families. If the system worked, these two Edmonton residents would be alive today, and my heart is with the families, “he said.
Ban Fuq Hoang, 61 (left) and Hung Trang, 64, were killed in separate attacks in the Chinatown of Edmonton on May 18, 2022 (Delivered)
Sohi said Bone had to visit a medical facility in Edmonton after he was released from the Edmonton Detention Center, but there were no vacancies.
Sohi did not say where the man should have lived while waiting for a place in the hospital.
“This speaks to a worrying lack of coordination in the system that needs to be addressed. Sohi wrote on Friday.
“The RCMP released this man into a system they knew was already over capacity and left him there. This is not right.”
The Chinatown community also released a written statement on Friday.
“Our community in Chinatown continues to mourn the friends and families of Hung Trang and Ban Fuq Hoang,” it said.
“That is why the conversation about decentralizing and reducing the saturation of social services in Chinatown is important. People who are unstable and dangerous cannot be abandoned and abandoned in our community. Chinatown will continue to work with key partners in support of their recent commitments to make our community safe. We will not give up hope. “
MOMENTS CLEANED OF CRIMINAL ACTION
A spokesman for Alberta’s attorney general said the RCMP had done nothing criminal by bringing Bone to Edmonton.
“The RCMP contacted the Director of Law Enforcement on this matter on 7 June, on the grounds that it may be subject to reporting requirements under Sec. 46.1 of the Police Act. Section “46.1 requires the police to inform the Ministry of incidents involving death or serious injury that may result from police action, as well as serious and sensitive allegations against the police,” Catherine Thompson said in a written statement.
“Investigations are being conducted under Sec. 46.1 to determine whether the actions of the police constitute a crime and whether there are reasonable grounds for bringing a criminal charge. In this case, the Director of Law Enforcement found that the matter did not include allegations of criminal offenses against the police and therefore did not fall within the scope of Sec. 46.1. Under Alberta police law, non-criminal investigations and reviews of officers’ behavior are conducted by the original police service.
With files from Jeremy Thompson and Sean Amato from CTV News in Edmonton.
Add Comment