3 men arrested in suspected extortion-related shooting

Three men have been arrested following a shooting early Sunday morning in the Crescent Beach area, and the community is planning another rally demanding action

Three men have been arrested and two vehicles seized after shots were fired in Surrey early Sunday morning, in what authorities say is an incident linked to the ongoing wave of extortion-related violence in the region.

Officers assigned to the anti-extortion team were patrolling the Crescent beach neighbourhood just before 4 a.m. when reports came in of shots fired and a “small fire” burning outside a home near Crescent Road and 132 Street, the Surrey Police Service said in a statement.

“SPS officers in the area located a suspect vehicle driving nearby and the occupants of the vehicle fled on foot,” the statement said, adding that the suspects were taken into custody several blocks away after “getting into a rideshare vehicle.”

The fire did not significantly damage the home, but the residence was damaged by gunfire, the department added.

“This incident is believed to be related to extortion,” the statement from police said.

The men have not been charged.

Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton told CTV News there were people inside when “a number” of shots were fired at the home.

“They’re understandably shaken up, but thankfully no one was injured,” he said.

“Currently we have information that potentially connects to the residents and the property, and other residences in the area, to extortion,” Houghton added.

Asked about the role of proactive patrols in making an arrest in this case, Houghton said the reality is that extortion-related violence has touched “every corner of the city” but that the department is trying to identify and prioritize where to allocate additional resources.

“Our officers are in those areas that we know there have been people who have been victimized before, whether that’s residences or businesses,” Houghton said.

“There are extra patrols happening every night and through the weekends and evenings in these areas so our officers are in the right place at the right time.”

Houghton also said sometimes an extortion threat comes before shots are fired at a home or business, and sometimes it comes after. He also stressed that it is important for people not to comply with any demands, and instead to contact police.

“The currency that the individuals behind this operate off of is fear. And that fear is supposed to make people motivated enough to pay their extortion demands,” he said.

“We know that people have been paying, unfortunately, and that that that continues this trend, as long as people pay, people will continue to look for more victims.”

Anyone with information or video is urged to call 604-599-0502 and quote file 26-10642