A man identified as a Squamish resident is one of two men facing charges in what police described as a "vicious attack" that occurred in North Vancouver 18 months ago.
North Vancouver RCMP are recommending charges of aggravated assault and forcible confinement against Paul Defaveri, 49, of Squamish, and of aggravated assault and forcible confinement against Robin Pryce, 40, of Surrey, in a case stemming from an incident that occurred in September 2009, RCMP Cpl. Peter DeVries said in a statement issued on Tuesday (March 8).
According to police, an investigation of the incident indicates that the attack "surrounded a syndicate of marijuana grow operators" and is related to the drug trade. At the time of the incident, police received a 911 call indicating that a man was found inside a vehicle, bound hand and foot and with a bag over his head, DeVries said.
The victim, a 67-year-old Surrey man, had lacerations on his scalp and face, severe trauma to both of his eyes, multiple broken ribs, a collapsed lung and bleeding in the brain, DeVries said.
Detectives with the North Vancouver RCMP's Serious Crimes Section have been investigating the incident, and the two were arrested on Friday (March 4), DeVries said. The two are being held in custody and are to appear in court on Tuesday (March 15).
"This shows once again that because of its monetary value as a commodity, marijuana is inextricably tied to serious acts of violence," he said. "Parents, teens and recreational marijuana users shouldn't lie to themselves and believe that marijuana is just a harmless high. This shows that the joints people smoke are linked to crimes other than just the production of the plant."
