Metro Vancouver’s most-wanted fugitives offered Valentine’s dinner behind bars

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is offering up a candle-lit dinner to its six most-wanted fugitives.

Authorities have invited six of Metro Vancouver’s most-wanted fugitives to turn themselves in this week, in exchange for a special candlelit Valentine’s Day dinner behind bars.

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers extended the invitation Tuesday from the Port Moody Police Department’s holding cells, one of which was decorated with a dinner table surrounded by half a dozen mannequins in orange jumpsuits.

The table was set with candlesticks, paper plates and a set of handcuffs.

“OK, it’s a bit tongue in cheek,” said Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers. “But we want to remind people dangerous criminals are on the loose and need to be reported.”

Each mannequin represented one of the six suspects and criminals on the non-profit organization’s annual list of the region’s “least-wanted Valentines,” including Rabih Alkhalil, who has a $50,000 reward out for information leading to his capture.

Alkhalil escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in 2022, and is wanted for murder, conspiracy to commit murder and being unlawfully at large.

The other Valentines on this year’s list include:

• Dominic Ethier, accused of assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer and failing to appear in court.
• Jean-Sebastien Philippe Eric Ferland, wanted on 14 charges, including possession of a prohibited weapon, breaking and entering, theft, fraud, identity theft and obstructing a police officer.
• John Norman Mackenzie, who was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder when he escaped from Mission Institution.
• Raj Kumar Mehmi, accused of importing a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
• Jeffrey Tkatchuk, wanted in connection with a drug trafficking investigation within a federal prison in B.C.’s Fraser Valley.

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers urged anyone with information on the fugitives’ whereabouts to come forward, noting tips that lead to the arrest and charge of any wanted suspect can be rewarded with up to $5,000.

“It’s a safe bet that they’ll still be on the run on the 14th,” Annis said. “Unless someone turns them in.”

The organization also guarantees anonymity, a right established through a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in 1997 – meaning tipsters will never be questioned by police or called to testify.

Information can be submitted by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online.