Mischief charges possible after man THE WEST Vancouver Police are now consider- ing seeking public mischief. charges against a British Properties man after he was: reportedly abducted earlier this year at gunpoint and then vanished without a trace. By Surj Rattan _ News Reporter On Jan. 25, “Andrzej Lassota-Foksowicz, 42, of 1055. Groveland Rd., West Vancouver, told the police that three suspects in an older model dark-colored Mercedes Benz had forced him from his vehicle at gunpoint into their vehicle in the British Proper- ties. ‘He. added that he was teleased unharmed near Col- ‘WV MAN Andrzej . Lasseta-Foksowiez could face mischief charges. : _wood on Vancouver Island ‘about six hours after his alleged ordeal began. At that.time, the police said they, suspected Lassota- Foksowicz had been released in a botched ‘kidnapping -at- tempt.” : _ But Lassota-Foksowicz ‘vanished without a trace two days later.. He was last seen driving his 1992 green two- door Lexus 400 with B.C. “licence plate - number TCN- 769 on Jan. 27. The police said Lassota-. ‘Foksowicz, .a businessman who had owed money to _ people inthe United States, was scheduled to. meet with the police the day he disap-. peared to discuss the initial abduction, but he failed to turn up. © Det. Stewart Nowacki of the West Vancouver . Police Department’s major crime section said Tuesday that the police have since tracked ‘Lassota-Foksowicz to California. He said that all: of the allegations. made by Lassota-Foksowicz. appeared to be groundless and that a charge of public. mischief is now pending against him. Another police detective told the News that ‘‘a major investigation’’ was launched ‘into Lassota- Foksowicz’ s allegations. _ “He has not been kidnap- ped. He’s phoning his family, and he’s on the run in the _U.S.,”" said the detective. THE MANAGER of a North Vancouver rental complex is critical of police support in the ‘‘trouble area’’ in which he lives. By Michael Becker News Reporter “Unless you say, ‘Hey there’s a knife, there’s a gun, somebody’s going to get shot,’ they won’t come,’’ said Shelley Goldstein, the manager of Seymour Village Garden Apartments. The 1!-building complex sits on 6.5 acres (2.6 hectares) and con- tains 113 rental suites. {t is adjacent to Windsor sec- ondary school, RecCentre Ron Andrews and a wooded area. “There is a lot of drinking and vandalism around here. People are getting beat up at night. It’s an ongoing thing,"’ he said. Goldstein said he has been managing the complex for the past 20 months, “When we came into this com- plex it was a deplorable: dump. We've done a lot to revitalize it, change the tenants and things like that,’’ he said. He said he has also removed bushes and improved lighting and fencing at the complex. “There is a gang problem in this area. You know these guys that wear the Bulls outfits and the Raiders? They are all over the place here, and I’m afraid there is going to be real trouble here this summer. “The kids see the marked (police) car and ... split into the woods and they're gone. They (the Friday, March 26, 1993 — North Shore News - 3 ‘trouble area raises fears Apartment manager says rental complex not receiving police support NEWS photo Mike Wakefield NORTH VANCOUVER rental complex manager Shelley Goldstein says he needs more help from residents and police to control ongoing incidents of drinking, vandalism and assault in his naigh- borhood. police) send one person out here for a call," he said. Goldstein said -an attempt to establish a working Block Watch program at the complex has proved difficult. Of approximately 400 tenants living at Seymour Village Garden Apartments, only 15 attended a mecting held last year to introduce. the program to tenants. ' Goldstein said only 12 have signed up. ‘We held the mecting, we had a few people here and we figured, get it started and it will start roll. ing,’’ Goldstein said. “Some of the tenants here live: in fear. They're afraid. of being beat up. They think they have to get involved in the fracas instead of just having to pick up the phone,”’ he added. But said) North Vancouver - RCMP Cpl. Rob ‘Smith, “Block Watch means the participation of the participants. This isn’t all just police push, it’s @ work- ing-together thing. My nnder- standing is that he (Goldstein) -is already signed up with the pro- gram.,”’ Smith said he will meet’ with Goldstein next week to address his concerns. ; feassessment finds man fit for trial David Roger Henderson charged in the murder of NV Dr. Verne Flather A 51-YEAR-OLD North Vancouver man was found fit to stand trial Wednesday in connnection with the murder of a North Vancouver doctor last year. David Roger Henderson, charg- ed with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Dr. Verne Flather, 55, is now scheduled to appear in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 3}, to set a trial date. Last November, Henderson was found unfit to stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court and was remanded to the Forensic Psychiatric In- stitute, where his case was to ‘be examined by a review board within 45 days. In January, after his case was reviewed, Henderson was again remanded to Psychiatric Institute. But a psychiatric assessment has now concluded that he is fit to stand trial. Flather was gunned down in front of his 400-block East Keith ° ‘Henderson the Forensic By Anna Marie D’ Angelo and Surj Rattan Road house on April 22, 1992. ‘Henderson was arrested at the scene. : He was carlier found fit to stand trial. But after observing Henderson’s behavior in court, Associate Chief Justice David Campbell’ instructed last November to undergo further psychiatric assessment. At the time, psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Zoffman, who had ex- amined Henderson, told the court” that in her opinion’ Henderson was unfit to stand trial. ‘*Mr. Henderson was disorganized and was rambling. He talked about various themes of && She said that Henderson had described the 400-block East Keith Road area as being crime-infested. 79 persecution. “He mentioned the victim. He denied ‘the victim was who he is said to be, He didn't recognize the victim,”’ testified Zoffman. She added that Henderson told her that he believed Flather was one of several people who had mugged him’ on a number of oc- casions, ; She said that Henderson had described the 400-block East Keith Road area as being crime- infested. “Also in November, Henderson told: the court that he wanted to fire his lawyer Peter Wiison. “I want to make sure the per-- son who represents me knows I’ve been -seeking medical attention. The charge is so serious that | want to give myself any benefit | can,’’ Henderson said at the time. In an: April 24, 1992 News story, North Vancouver RCMP Staff Sgt. Ron Babcock said witnesses reported seeing Flather get into a car when he was shot. Flather, wha had his own prac- tice in North Vancouver, - also worked as a general practitioner at Lions Gate Hospital. Neighbors take tree-vs-view fight to court A TREE-cutting dispute between two West Vancouver neighbors has wound up in B.C. Supreme Court. _At issue is a trees-versus-views clash in the Sunset Point subdivi- sion, which is just east of Mon- tizambert Creek between Horse- shoe Bay and Lions Bay. In the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, March 17, in B.C. Supreme Court, Joseph and Gene Stephenson of 8615 Lawrence Way claim their neighbors Barry and Catherine Henderson are responsible for unauthorized tree-cutting. The suit states that the Hender- sons purchased adjoining property By Brent Mudry Contributing Writer at 8454 Bedora PI. last November. The Stephensons state in their suit that on or about Dec. 10, 1992, their property was tres- passed and trees.and brush were cut, felled and limbed. ! The suit claims that the _Hendersons either were directly responsible, or directed uniden- tified persons to do the deed. The Stephensons claim their neighbors had not received or re- quested their approval, or were wilfully blind as to the ownership _ of the area in question. The suit further claims that after the trees had been cut, the Hendersons enjoyed a better view of the water and mountains, and the value of their property was enhanced. The Stephensons claim the Hendersons then offered to sell the Bedora property on or about Feb. 1, by listing it with a real estate agent. According to a real estate ex- pert, an improved view in the Sunset area can add $25,000 to the value of a property. The Stephensons claim to have originally purchased their property for the allure of its wild nature. The lot is forested and includes evergreen, alder, cedar, prunus and laurel trees. The suit notes that the area in . question was used by the Stephen- sons as a secluded retreat. It also claims that the trees served as a wind buffer and as a buffer against highway and railway traffic noise. To press time, neither couple was available to comment on the suit.