PNE riot investigation leads to charges against 15 people: VPD

The Vancouver Police Department says 15 people have been charged with mischief after a riot at the PNE in 2022 caused more than $300,000 in damages.

The charges come after an almost year-long investigation into the incident at last summer’s BreakOut Festival, where the headliner, Lil Baby, was forced to cancel his performance due to illness.

“We spent months collecting evidence and analyzing video in the aftermath of the Breakout Festival, and we promised to do everything we could to arrest those responsible for their violent and destructive behavior,” said Insp. Dale Weidman. “We’re grateful to everyone who came forward with tips and helped us identify these suspects.”

Related article: Vancouver police look for additional PNE riot suspects

Images and videos posted online at the time showed attendees channeling their disappointment into destruction, with garbage bins being flipped over and structures being brought down. As tents were flipped, some social media users said concert-goers even began stealing alcohol.

Witnesses told CityNews the scene turned violent for some.

“It was a giant fight between a bunch of people probably in their late teens. There were more than 15 cop cars there, ambulance, fire trucks, a bunch of people bleeding all around, police with rifles,” one caller to CityNews described.

“This was going to be a great event for us … to have it marred by the actions of a small group of people was incredibly disappointing,” said PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance. “A small group of people had ruined it for everyone else.

The Sep. 18, 2022 incident also sparked fights and damage in the surrounding residential neighbourhoods, the VPD says.

After two people were arrested the following November, the VPD released the photos of another 10 people who were wanted in connection with the riot.

The VPD says the BC Prosecution Service has now approved the mischief charges for 15 people who were allegedly between the ages of 15 and 22 at the time of the offences.

“All but three suspects live in communities outside Vancouver, with some living as far away as Prince George, Vancouver Island, and the Okanagan,” the VPD said Tuesday.

“It was very upsetting for a large number of our staff. And that’s why I think this will close this chapter of that, and allow people to feel confident in this site,” Ballance added.

–With files from Hana Mae Nassar