Justin Boon, 36, was charged with second-degree murder in the May 18 deaths of 61-year-old Ban Puk Hoang and 64-year-old Hong Trang.
Insp. Mike Lokken of the Parkland Squad issued a written statement regarding the decision made by the officers on 15 May.
He wrote that the police were sent to a house in the Alberta Beach area after a complaint about threats to the house.
“The owner of the house indicated that Mr Bowen could no longer stay at home. As Mr. Bowen was not allowed to travel to Edmonton without being accompanied by Alberta Beach homeowner, RCMP officers attempted to contact Mr. Bowen to discuss alternative arrangements, but could not be reached. Said Loken.
“The officers, in consultation with their supervisor, decided that the best course of action would be to move Mr Bowen to an area where support and services were available to him, and left him near a social services hub in the west. Edmonton end for easy access to these services. The officers informed the Edmonton Police Department about their actions “.
The Edmonton Police Department confirmed that it had contacted the RCMP.
“On Sunday, May 15, 2022, EPS was notified that a man on condition that he was not in Edmonton was transferred to Edmonton by the RCMP. The matter was not immediately clear at the time of the call, “EPS spokesman Landis Reichle told CTV News Edmonton in a written statement.
“We understand that the matter was delivered to West Edmonton by a member of the RCMP. A message was sent by the RCMP to the EPS identifying the subject as Justin Bone upon his withdrawal.
Reichle said EPS members spoke with Bowen that day after receiving a call from a complainant, but after it was determined that no crime had been committed, they had no reason to detain him.
“He was advised to keep the balance of his ordered conditions and to discuss any changes with his supervising officer.”
Loken said Mountis contacted Bowen’s officer on May 16.
“Officers were able to confirm that there had been communication between Mr Bowen and his staff member under control, and that Mr. Bowen was working with his officer under control to obtain the support he needed,” he said.
TRAGEDIES IN CHINATOWN#
Two days later, Bone was arrested in connection with the deaths of Hoang and Trang.
The two men were beaten to death in separate attacks in Chinatown on May 18.
An employee of Albert’s Autobody was seriously injured on May 18, 2022, according to police and his boss.
Bone was taken into custody near Albert’s Autobody at 106th Avenue and 98th Avenue after being escorted by a private security guard after Trang was beaten.
In addition to the homicide charge, he was charged with robbery and failure to comply with a release order.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 17 at 9 a.m. for the charges.
He has a long criminal record and has been charged and convicted several times for failing to comply with court orders.
The Mounties say a review of the officers’ actions on May 15 is under way.
“Our hearts are heavy with the family and friends of Hong Trang and Ban Puk Hoang and our thoughts are with them as they navigate this terrible tragedy,” Loken said.
EPS also expressed its condolences.
“The tragedy of the events following our May 15 interaction with Mr. Bowen is not lost on EPS and we continue to send our condolences to the families of both men as they navigate the loss of their loved ones,” Reichl wrote.
PUBLIC SECURITY PLAN#
The two men were killed days before Justice Minister Tyler Sandro invoked the Police Act on May 26 and ordered Edmonton to create a public security plan. Amarjeet Sohi handed over the plan to the province on Thursday, along with a promise to make Chinatown safer.
On May 30, he noted that he was seeking cooperation from the province and the federal government to ensure that people would not be released from medical or penitentiary facilities without going anywhere.
“This is something we need to work on with both the provincial and federal governments,” Sochi said. “The reality is that when people are released from prison, yes, they have done their time, but there has to be a transition so that they do not end up on the road.”
On Friday, Sohi responded to news that Bone had been transferred to Edmonton by the RCMP in a written statement.
“It is clear that the judicial system and policing in Alberta have failed the two members of our community: Hong Trang and Ban Puk Hoang and their families. “If the system worked, these two Edmontonians would be alive today and my heart goes out to the families,” he said.
Ban Phuc Hoang, 61, (left) and Hung Trang, 64, were killed in separate attacks in Edmonton Chinatown on May 18, 2022. (Provided)
Sochi said Bowen had to go to an Edmonton treatment unit after he was released from Edmonton Detention Center, but no seats were available.
Sochi did not say where the man should live while waiting for a place in the treatment unit.
“This speaks to a worrying lack of coordination in the system that needs to be addressed.” Sochi wrote on Friday.
“The RCMP released this man into a system that they knew had already exceeded its capacity and left him there. This is not right.”
The Chinatown community also issued a written statement on the news Friday.
“Our Chinatown community continues to mourn the friends and family of Hung Trang and Ban Phuc Hoang,” he said.
“That’s why the debate over decentralization and the desaturation of social services in Chinatown is important. People who are unstable and dangerous can not surrender and be abandoned in our community. Chinatown will continue to work with key partners to support their recent commitments to make our community safer. We will not give up our hope. “
CLEARED MOUNTAINS FROM CRIMINAL ACTIONS#
A spokesman for Alberta’s attorney general said the RCMP did nothing criminal to bring Bowen to Edmonton.
“The RCMP contacted the law enforcement director about this on June 7, based on the fact that it may be subject to reporting requirements under section Sec. 46.1 of the Police Law. Sec. “46.1 requires police to inform the ministry of incidents involving death or serious injury that may have been caused by police actions, as well as of serious and sensitive allegations against the police,” Katherine Thompson said in a written statement.
“The research is conducted on the basis of Sec. 46.1 to determine whether the actions of the police constituted a criminal offense and whether there are reasonable grounds for prosecuting them. In this case, the law enforcement director found that the matter did not concern allegations of criminal offenses against the police and therefore did not fall within the scope of Sec. 46.1. “Under Alberta Police law, non-criminal investigations and checks on officers’ conduct are carried out by the incumbent police service.”
With files from Jeremy Thompson of CTV News Edmonton and Sean Amato.
