Pubdate: Wed, 27 Apr 2016
Source: Cloverdale Reporter (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Cloverdale Reporter News
Contact:  http://www.cloverdalereporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3407
Author: Kevin Diakiw
Page: A1

SPARSE TURNOUT AT SURREY CRIME FORUM

He watched in disbelief as his friend was dragged to death under the
carriage of an SUV.

But the horrific incident was just the start of his gang life, a road
that would eventually take him to a stint in North Fraser Correctional
Centre - which he described as one of the scariest places he's been.

Jordan Buna's recount of his brush with the gangster lifestyle was
delivered to a forum on youth, drugs and violence held by the Surrey
RCMP and City of Surrey on Monday night at the Bell Centre for the
Performing Arts.

Buna's story was compelling, emotional and awe-inspiring, attendees
said.

It was also heard by only about 80 people at the sparsely attended
event.

The small showing wasn't lost on attendee Meera Gill, who was deeply
moved by Buna's story.

"If I would have known this (event) was this wonderful, I would have
dragged every single parent, every kid out there," Gill said. "I sat
here and cried listening to Jordan (Buna). Every single speech has
been nothing but positive, but everything that has been going to media
up until now has been absolutely negative."

The forum, planned weeks ago, was moved forward because of a spate of
recent shootings in Surrey - 34 in total so far this year.

"Why could not all of these chairs have been filled?" Gill
asked.

A similar forum held this time last year saw 800 people packed into a
school gymnasium.

The presentation given by Mounties and school officials this time
around was extremely polished and on point, with most concerns being
raised by the community.

Surrey RCMP Officer In Charge Bill Fordy said police are working
"around the clock" trying to arrest those responsible for the rash of
shootings.

"We're making headway because of the help we've received from the
general public," Fordy said.

The community was most recently rattled by gunfire into a home on
Saturday (April 16).

"This may be an example of where the suspects targeted the wrong
location," Fordy said.

He noted the occupants of the home were not previously known to police
and are cooperating with investigators.

"As you can well imagine, an innocent person being caught in the
crossfire of this criminal activity is our biggest concern, or worst
nightmare," Fordy told the group.

The 34 shootings in 2016 have included "people shooting each other,
people shooting into buildings, people shooting into residences and
buildings, and shell casings being found outside," he said.

"The majority of these shootings are happening at the hands of people
involved in the drug trade."

The violence was disrupted by police last year, Fordy said, and
promised it would end again this year.

Surrey RCMP Insp. Shawna Baher outlined how dial-a-dope operations
work, saying they are much like a pizza delivery.

"You make a phone call and the drugs are delivered to the location of
your choice," Baher said.

The dial-a-dopers are selling cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and
marijuana.

"And in some instances, these drugs are being mixed with fentanyl,"
Baher said, adding the illicit drug is responsible for several deaths
in the region.

It's drug-dealing activities that youth are being recruited for, Baher
said. They're targeted because they are vulnerable, easy to influence
and are not known to police, allowing them to operate under the radar.

"Youth are lured in because they see it as a fast and easy way to make
money," Baher told the forum.

Once in, it's hard for them to get out, Baher said.

Sometimes they owe debts from drugs that were stolen or seized by
police.

"Pay or we will kill you," were the options give to
Buna.

He ended up working another 10 months for the gang just to pay off a
debt from drugs that had been seized by police.

He worked as an enforcer and other jobs he swore he'd never do. But he
had no choice.

"You're going to be forced to make choices to save your own life,
regardless of whether you want to or not," Buna said.

He ended up in North Fraser Correctional Centre and said it was an
absolutely horrid place.

"The things that go on in there would make your toes curl," Buna said.
"Violence, intimidation, bullying on steroids is the best way I can
describe it. This place will break you."

He described it as the next stop for kids looking for fast money and
an easy life.

Three principals spoke and said there are 70,000 great students in the
Surrey School District.

Paulo Sarmento, principal at LA Matheson, described attendance at the
forum as being like a parent-teacher meeting.

"You're the parents of the straight-A students," he said to the
engaged group.

Gill said the challenge will be to reach the parents of the other
students that need to hear what was said on Monday.
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MAP posted-by: Matt