Police are seeking two suspects in an early morning incident Friday (July 13) that left two patrons of the Garibaldi Budget Innin hospital.
At 1 a.m. on July 13, five suspects broke into a room at the Third Avenue discount motel.
The suspects used a machete and bear spray to steal drugs cell phones, an IPod and a 1991 red Chevy Blazer from two short-term residents, a 27-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man.
The suspects also took the victims' bank cards, forcing them to give up their PINs, according to Cpl. Dave Ritchie of the RCMP.The suspects and victims are acquainted and are known by police to have an involvement in drugs, said Ritchie without specifying the type of illicit substances.
"[They're known] from their involvement in the community's crime and drug world," said Ritchie.
One of the victims called 911 and identified the suspects for police and listed drugs as among the stolen items.
The information led investigators to a residence in the 37000 block of Second Avenue where four of the five individuals suspected to have undertaken the theft were taken into custody.
RCMP recovered drugs from the suspect upon their arrest, but police are not disclosing the type.
The victims were treated at the scene by emergency crews and subsequently went to hospital on two separate occasions for treatment for lacerations, the effects of bear spray and a head injury from a beer bottle strike.
One adult female was released on a recognizance to appear in provincial court on July 23.
One adult male was released with no charges.
The two male suspects, 26-year-old Traith Jones and 40-year-old Dana Gilbertson, both of Squamish, appeared in Provincial Court Monday (July 16).
The pair was held in custody to face charges of uttering threats, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, break and enter and possession of stolen property.
Police are still searching for an 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man in relation to this incident, and RCMP have good indications that the two suspects are still in Squamish.
"We're pretty solidified in what we're doing and where we're going and we're pretty clear on where the people are at," said Ritchie.
He added that the "isolated incident" should not cause visitors and hotel patrons concern for their own safety.
"It's not an incident where the community has to be concerned that everybody's going to get their rooms kicked in," he said. "It's a pretty isolated incident to that group."
The incident does highlight a growing problem with drugs, prostitution and illicit activity that comes with the growing number of transients coming through town, according to Ritchie.
"When you have increased activity with street workers, then you get an increase of people associated to them and associated with drugs, etc," said Ritchie.
"It's a vicious circle."
