A cash reward is being offered after no arrests have been made in connection to a violent attack at a Coastal GasLink camp in February.
Just after midnight on Feb. 17, Houston RCMP was called to Marten Forest Service Road for a report that people were attacking Coastal GasLink security guards. Approximately 20 people, some armed with axes, reportedly attacked the security guards and damaged work vehicles.
Video footage from the Coastal GasLink camp shows people dressed in white coveralls, with their faces covered, storming the property. The individuals can be seen swinging axes at vehicles and spray painting windows in the video.
Chris Gardner, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), says it was a horrific event for people working at the camp.
"The level of fear that these workers experienced was horrific. You can hear it in the voices of the workers and the crews who were on that site that evening," says Gardner.
Police officers found various objects placed on the road to obstruct it, including boards with spikes, fires, downed trees, tar-covered stumps, wires and a school bus.
Gardner says these acts of violence were planned, coordinated, premeditated and carried out with precision.
"People were threatened, lives were at risk, and more than $20 million worth of equipment was completely destroyed," he says.
Police have not been able to identify the people responsible.
"We know there are people out there who have information on these perpetrators, and we're urging you to do the right thing and call us. Allow the police to hold them accountable," says RCMP Chief Supt. John Brewer.
The ICBA and CrimeStoppers have teamed up to offer a $100,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and charge of any individual responsible for the crime.
"We will accept tips from anyone who wants to pass on information anonymously about this terrifying attack. We simply need any information that will lead to the arrest and charge of those responsible," says Linda Annis, Executive Director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers.
Annis personally promises anonymity.
"We just need the information that leads to the arrest," she says.
Police have conducted several interviews and followed up on several leads, but they believe someone has information that could help.
"There are some missing pieces, and I hope this private reward today will entice those individuals to come forward with those missing pieces," says Elliott. "I do believe there are people out there who know something."
Since the attack, RCMP has remained at the service road where the incident occurred.
Gardner hopes the reward will prompt people to come forward.
"No worker in any workplace in British Columbia, or their families, should live in fear that when they got to clock in, got to their place of work that they're at risk of attacks from thugs and criminals," he says.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Houston RCMP at (250) 845-2204. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a message on their website at Solvecrime.ca.
