Local teen violence fact and fiction examined TEENAGE VIOLENCE has been a headline-grabbing topic recently, and the stereotype it has spawned is a major friction point, say local youths. By fan Noble News Reporter After a Thursday evening _ Meeting at North Vancouver's Highlands United Church, three 17-year-old ‘students told the News the baggy-panted stereo- type of the tecnage criminal is a constant irritant to teenagers. During a Together Against Violence’s Teenage Violence — Myths and Realities meeting, the audience, mostly members of the Narth Vancouver Branch of the Canadian Federation of University. Women, were asked what kind of teen they associate with violence. ; Answers. included baggy pants, backward baseball caps, attitude, shaved heads, pierced body parts. and tattoos. If such stereotypes were “true, “that would be like 90% of . youth are violent,” said Seycove Secondary student Anika Harrer. vos “That’s how most of the youth dress,” she added. ‘Only 2% of youth have actually beeti involved in crime. North Vancouver. District youth development worker Teri Derksen noted the images evoked are power- ful. and concurred that a lot of youths are fed up with the Stereo type. Derksen. along with student Renata Negritto. shed some factual information on youth violence today: VIOLENCE 8 2% of homicides were committed _ by youth; in North Vancouver Youth Court, the most common offences were property offences (53%) and vio- ient crimes were the second most common (279%) between J986 and 1992, youth violent crime increased 6%. BM mere young people are being charged and incarcerated for longer periods under 1984's" Young Offenders Act than the earlier Juvenile Delinquents Act. 37 of the [68 young offenders in North Vancouver conunitted 43% of the youth crime. After discussing the root causes and contributing factors to youth crime — poverty, dis- crimination, racism, peer pres- sure, drugs, alcohol, foneliness, and physical, sexual and emo- tional abuse —- the talk turned to what can be done. Answers poured forth: Listen to what youth have to say, give youth the benefit of the doubt. educate, provide exciting and challenging opportunities for youth, affordable recreation. and give youth leadership opportunities, said audience members. At the same time, however, some also wanted to put. the onus on youths to change the stereotypes. Swarming teenagers who don’t let others pass perpetuate that negative image. said one. Negritto said 28% of the stu- dents at Seycove do not feel safe walking home after, school or on weekends. NEWS pholo Mike Wakefield A HONDA Prelude. caught fire and started to roll at the intersection of Lonsdale and Carisbrooke on Friday morning. It crossed the street before coming to a rest. North Vancouver District firefighters arrived to douse the fire after the car was fully engulfed by flames. Voman kil AN 83-YEAR-OLD woman was killed on Thursday nighi while riding in a car involved in .. a crash in the 3700-block of Delbrook Avenue in North Vancouver. “ By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter Wai Kin Wong, of Vancouver, was a passenger in . the back seat of-a car when she was fatally injured, >. according to a North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. Wong was one of six Vancouver people in a : Plymouth Sundance car travelling north on Delbrook Avenue at 9:30 p.m. - “They are all members of the same family, Cpl. David Field of traffic section. a The family’s car collided with a Volkswagen van going south on the road. According to Ute police. the encroached” into the north lane. ” said The driver of the van, a 40-year-old Vancouver man, was taken to Lions Gate Hospital in critical con- dition. led in NV crash He suffered face and throat injuries in the crash, according to the police. A six-year-old girl in the car was taken to B.C.'s Children’s Hospital in serious, but stable condition. The other four people in the car, including its 50- year-old driver, were taken to Lions Gate Hospital in stable condition. . The police said on Friday that the injuries to the survivors are not considered to‘be life threatening. A police investigation into the collision continues. Meanwhile, the North Vancouver RCMP held its first Christmas Counterattack road check on Thursday night. The police are recommending 4 charge of impaired driving against one motorist stopped in the check. Approximately seven 24-hour roadside suspensions were issued during road cheeks set up at three loca- tions in North Vancouver. . The police said that approximately 40 lckets were issued for various infractions, including driving a vehi- cle with malfunctioning headlights and driving with- outa driver's licence, Drugs were seized from one car. The Counterattack program runs until Jans 8. NEWS photo Brad Lecwidge NORTH VANCOUVER youth worker Teri Derks sen explores the myths and realities of youth crime with the North Vancouver Branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women. harges Liberty of oes questioned ‘A NORTH Vancouver man who racked up seven drug charges in three separate incidents since March appeared in’ court on ‘ Wednesday saying’ he dida® We have a lawyer, f By Anna Maria D'Angelo News Reporter “Lan trying to get legal aid,” said William John Kelder, 35. Replied North Vancouver provin- cial court Judge Bill Rodgers, “It's a Hitde late for that. you have a trial i in 10 days.” ‘ Kelder, who lived at a house in the 1500-bleck of Rupert Street, was charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking March 8. North Vancouver RCMP. dmg squad members arrested Kelder in connection with the incident. Kelder was -arrested again and charged with possessing cocaine on June 23 in North Vancouver District. He was released from jail after being charged with his second drug charge in tess than four rnonths. On Oct. 27, 1995 he was charged with: @ trafficking’ cocaine in North Vancouver City; 1 possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking? i possessing marijuana: @ dealing with cash knowing that it wils obtained as a result of trafficking a marcouic: @ conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Judge Jerome Paradis released Kelder on Oct. 31 despite protests from. federal Crown lawyer - Jay Staith. if Straith had“ argued” that Kelder be should remain in jail on the grounds “that Kelder would re-offend. On .Wednesday, Straith said’ he received a letter from Kelder’s lawyer saying .he was withdrawing from Kelder’s case set for trial on Now. 17. “These matters are dragging on a and on.” said Straith in court. Straith went over the chronology f charges and court appearances volving Kelder. Said Rodgers. ' at liberty." Kelder was to appear in court on Friday: after tatking to his~ former lawyer. Meanwhile Paradis fined: a man $500 on Nov. | for cultivating 40 plants of marijuana in a basement. The North Vancouver RCMP drug squad also seized 279 grams of har- vested marijuana in connection with the March 24 incident in the 1500- ° block of Hunter Street in North Vancouver District. Michael Charles Watson, 34, pleaded guilty to a marijuana cultiva- tion charge. Straith, who handles federal drug charges, had asked for a $2,000 fine. Straith said Paradis noted that Watson had been traumatized during the inctdent as the police had kicked in a door. Straith said the police operate that way because they don't know what is on the other side of the door. Paradis, Straith said, mentioned Danny Possee during sentencing. Possee was killed by a West Vancouver Police officer during’ a drug raid in North Vancouver in 1992, vm Surprised | he is THESON of North Vancouver provincial court Judge Jerome Paradis appeared in North Vancouver provincial court on Sept. 27i in connection with a narcotic possession charge. : Luc Ben Paradis’ drug charge was transferred to Vancouver provincial /eourt. Lue Ben Paradis-is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial coun on Dee, 14 in connection with a charge of possessing marijuana.