Drug raid in Olympic Village leads to ‘disturbing’ situation for neighbours
Posted August 28, 2017 10:17 pm.
Last Updated August 29, 2017 10:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
This article was updated August 29, 2017, 9:43 a.m.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It may have looked like a movie set, but it was a real life police and hazmat situation that took over an Olympic Village neighbourhood late Monday afternoon.
Police executed a drug-related search warrant in the area of Columbia and 1st Avenue at around 4 p.m. Vancouver Fire crews were called in as officers found “unknown substances” inside the suite.
One person has been arrested. There were also some health concerns about two officers involved in the raid.
“They did feel a little light-headed and it could have been from any number of things. So, as a precaution, they went to the hospital and they were released without any treatment,” says Sergeant Jason Robillard.
Officers are back at the scene today to collect evidence. There are no evacuations in the area.
The situation was troubling for people who live in the area.
“There was probably two cop cars here, and they were all directing everyone not to go down these streets,” describes Amy Knopp, who lives just around the corner from a condo building police were responding to. “It’s bizarre, and you think it’s a really nice neighbourhood, so you think what could possibly be going on.”
She says she saw a police tank-like vehicle driving down the street, and describes seeing several officers dressed in heavy gear.
“When the tank left, we saw a couple guys in sort of SWAT gear, rifles in tow, coming out of the front entrance.”
It wasn’t until around 6 p.m. that neighbours say the hazmat team arrived, dressed in full gear.
Knopp calls whole situation is disturbing, and claims this isn’t the first time this kind of thing has happened.
Others who live near the building say they’ve seen plain clothes officers around the area for weeks.
