Police announce more charges against riot suspects; ask for public’s help

VANCOUVER – A man who was pummelled when he tried to stop a mob from smashing windows during the Stanley Cup riot last June is asking the public to help identify the people who beat him.

Robert MacKay told a police news conference Tuesday that he wants everyone to watch the video of the crowd that assaulted him last June 15.

“I threw all caution to the side and jumped in,” he said. “I completely reacted.”

Insp. Les Yeo showed video of MacKay being thrown to the ground and kicked, and said the video will be available for the public to watch on the department’s website, along with photos of the suspects.

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“Despite viewing thousands of hours of video and hundreds of criminal acts, investigators were sickened by what they watched as Robert MacKay was swarmed and beaten and pepper sprayed while he lay on the ground,” he said.

MacKay said seeing the video of the attack was disturbing, but he said he has not had lingering problems.

“It was tough watching it here in front of all the cameras, I’m not going to lie,” he told the news conference.

“Yeah, it takes me back to that night. I haven’t been overly scarred from it.”

Yeo also announced Tuesday the Crown has approved 11 more charges against five people suspected of taking part in the riot.

The youngest is a 17-year-old boy from Langley, B.C., and the charges range from participating in a riot to assault, break and enter and mischief.

The new charges bring to 43 the number of people who have now been charged, out of the 100 suspects that police have recommended charges against.

The riot broke out when thousands of people gathered downtown to watch the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks on giant TV screens during the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs.