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Hunt for Stanley Cup riot suspects comes to Victoria

Suspect faces dot Riot Roundup2 posters, campaign aims to elicit tips

Boualay Phosy scans an arm-length poster covered with the photos of 100 wanted suspects.

The Esquimalt resident eagerly takes a few of the posters from Victoria police reserve Const. Lucas Wilzewski at the Mayfair Shopping Centre.

Wilzewski was one of 33 Victoria police reservists and volunteers circulating thousands of the Riot Roundup2 posters to businesses and passersby in high-traffic areas of the city on Thursday.

Victoria police are supporting efforts by the Integrated Riot Investigation Team, a team of Lower Mainland police officers, to identify suspects believed to have been involved in the violent riot in Vancouver following game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals on June 15, 2011.

"We've had information that people from the riot … could be living here in Victoria and Saanich and (elsewhere in) the Lower Island," said Const. Mike Russell.

The number of suspects residing in the region is not known, he added.

"There's a long list of faces on here (the poster) and we're hoping that the community will be able to help us put some names to those faces. We're not out for public shaming, but we need to get these people brought to justice so we can make sure this doesn't happen again."

Posters are being circulated on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and in the Upper Fraser Valley region.

"I'd love to help, but a lot of people don't know how to get involved," Phosy said.

He planned to take a closer look at the photos in case he recognizes someone.

"You never know," he said.

For details please visit riot2011.vpd.ca. Tips about suspects can be passed on to the Vancouver Police Department by calling 604-717-9999 or emailing riot@vpd.ca.

emccracken@vicnews.com