Sex assault charges laid CHARGES have been laid in connection with the sexual assault of a 75-year-old woman in Lower? Lonsdale Jan. 21. Police say a burglar catered the woman’s 1 loor apartment through an unlocked patio door bervcen 2 and 3 a.m. Kevin Donald Oakley, 29, of Norch Vancouver, enter in connection with the attack. Oakley was denied bail and remains in cus- He is slated to appear in North Varicouver provincial court today. — Anna Marie D’Angelo Bogus ploy playing out - “NORTH Vancouves Mounties are warning the public sbout opus door-to-door canvassers seeking money in the name of a legitimate charity. Poiice say two peo- ple this pec have gone to North ‘Vancouver homes ask- ing for money for the Modern Service Club for the Handicap. The White Rock charity is not conduct- ing door-to-door solici- tations at this ime cn the North Shore. “It appears the peo- th the fraud section. Dawiskiba said the bogus charity workers are primarily targeting seniors. Dawiskiba reminds residents to ask for per identification From 2 anyone fundrais- ing at the coor. If residents are unfa- miliar with the charity, they should ask can- vassezs for the latest financial statement. Never give can- vassers cash and write cheques payable to the charity’s name only. Vancouver police look at issue of delay By lan Noble News Reporter VANCOUVER police are attempting to pin- point reasons for a delay in alerting North Shore agencies about the disappearance of an English snowboarder. The missing man was found dead Sunday in an out- of-bounds area off Cypress Mountain. An internal investigation has been launched. The police department is not yet talking about its delay in notifying res- cue personnel, other police agencies and North Shore ski Vancouver police spokes- man Const. Anne Drennan said the investigation will cover the period from when the missing person’s report on 25-year-old Simon Whitehurst was filed Feb. 4 to when he was discovered at the bottom of a waterfall Feb. 9 Drennan said the i investiga- tion will focus on what hap- pened, what policy there is in lace and whether it was fol- lowed, and whether policy changes are needed. Whitehurst went missing Feb. 1. The finger-wagging started with North Shore Rescue Team search and rescue man- ager Ron Royston. He criticized both Van- couver and North Vancouver police Monday. “Vancouver basically drop- ped the ball and should have started the process themselves on Feb. 4,” he said. “The delay indicates good judgment was not necessarily exercised.” He singled out West Vancouver police for following protocol and alerting North Shore Rescue. Spen the night slopeside . : Royston said North Shore ski areas and North Shore Rescue should have been noti- fied of the missing person on Feb, 4, as soon as the report of Whitchurst’s disappearance was received by the Vancouver police. “Once notification was received by police one would hope some kind of response would have been considered,” he said. “The other disturbing fact is our North Vancouver police did not do toa much with the file when they got it.” On Friday, Feb. 7, West Vancouver police and the North Vancouver RCMP were alerted to the missing snow- boarder. North Vancouver RCMP spokesman Const. Catherine Galliord said her police department received a CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre) message from Vancouver police on Feb, 7 at 2:23 p.m. The message said Whitehurst was believed to have gone snowboarding on Cypress or Grouse and hasn't been seen since. Galliford said the message read: “We have not notified the North Shore Rescue at this time and are not contemplat- ing to.” Galliford added the CPIC message was for information only and indicated that local police would receive more BTN BLOWOUT FACTORY FaTON Eetrance in reas lae —_Hee.- Sat. I-Spm Sonday 12-5 pa - your t room. Spend more time.on the ‘slopes and 23 9 ih CONPARE 267 E. Ist. .¥an 904-4504 less: time on the road. But hurry this special rate a won't last forever. Rate is based on space avail- able and does not include applicable taxes. Some Powder Resort Properties restrictions apply. ao ¥ Whisthe's large: et asllection of luxury suites A it Wednesday, February 12, 1997 — North Shore News — § mowboarder found information if the subject was perceived to be in the local area. There was no request for North Vancouver assistance, said Galliford. It was up to Vancouver police to nonfy local ski areas, she said. “AH of that is the responsibility of the investiga: tive agency. At no point were we the invesngating agency.” Royston said West Van- couver police alerted his agency to Whitchurst’s disap- pearance late Saturday after- noon. Darkening skies, the treachery of the terrain to be searched and the lengthy delay since the disappearance caused Royston to postpone the search to daybreak Sunday. Royston said the search Sunday ended when Whitehurst’s body was discov- ered at the bottom of a water- fall in the east tork of Strachan Creek. He’s the third person to dic skiing or snowboarding, in the steep area over the past 10 years, said Royston. ihitehurst’s chances of survival diminished with the delay in notifying the cops of his disappearance and the delay by Vancouver police, Royston said. He added people should Icave plans and an itinerary with others when they go into the mountains. 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