VANCOUVER – A former Kamloops, B.C. gang member accused in a Vancouver kidnapping case will skip preliminary hearings and go directly to trial.
Thomas Crawford, 30, made his first court appearance Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court on multiple charges of kidnapping, unlawful confinement, extortion and possessing a prohibited firearm.
Vancouver police announced in late October they had rescued a man who had been held hostage and was dumped on to the road from a car the officers were following.
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Police trailed the car and took down two suspect vehicles, leading to the arrest of seven suspects and seizing guns, Tasers, handcuffs and a spy kit used to detect home wiretaps.
Afterwards, Insp. Brad Desmarais alleged some of those arrested had associations with the Independent Soldiers or Red Scorpion gangs.
Crawford, who remains in custody, told a 2010 parole hearing on another matter that he was changing his ways and had even covered up his Independent Soldiers arm tattoos.
Three others accused in the case also remain in custody, while three further people were previously released on bail.
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