Transit top cop nabs suspect
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Updated: July 04, 2009 9:29 AM
Even top cops get to do some basic policing now and then.
Transit Police chief Ward Clapham was credited with an arrest this week when he helped take into custody an aggressive panhandler who damaged a bus fare box.
Clapham, who heads up the New Westminster-based Greater Vancouver Transit Authority Police, was using public transit to get to a meeting with North Vancouver RCMP Detachment superintendent Tonia Enger on Thursday morning when a radio call came through.
The suspect was initially reported at Burrard SkyTrain station but had left and was believed to be on a SeaBus heading to the North Shore. Clapham, who was on the same SeaBus, spotted the suspect and phoned ahead to Enger and RCMP Insp. Les Flewelling asking for assistance.
Once at the North Vancouver terminal, the high-ranking officers arrested the 25-year-old male suspect.
It became quickly obvious he was mentally ill so the suspect was taken to Lions Gate Hospital for a psychological evaluation.
“It is not often chiefs, superintendents or inspectors get to make arrests,” said Clapham. “But today, not only did we all work together in preventing further crime, we got a very sick individual the help he needed.”
mmcquillan@newwestnewsleader.com
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