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    Edmonton police investigate base jumping incident

    Edmonton police investigate base jumping incident

    By Emily Mertz Global News






    Alleged base jumpers in downtown Edmonton Sunday, August 4, 2013. Photo COURTESY MURRAY BILLETT Supplied, MURRAY BILLETT




    EDMONTON – The Edmonton Police Service is investigating reports of a base jumping incident that took place Sunday night in the downtown area.
    At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Sunday, police received reports of three men allegedly parachuting – or base jumping – from a building in the area of Jasper Avenue and 119 Street.

    Police were told three men had entered a fenced and locked construction site, and jumped from one of the top floors of the building, landing a short distance away on Victoria Promenade before leaving in a waiting vehicle. Police responded did not catch the individuals.
    Murray Billet was out walking with friends Sunday evening and saw the whole thing.
    “A stroll in the lovely promenade in Edmonton last night – pictures tell me it was exactly 9:40 – and we’re strolling along here and all of a sudden, one parachute drops out of the sky, then a second one, and then a third,” he recalls.
    “My intent was: beautiful night, beautiful friends, beautiful sunset, and then parachutes fall out of the sky? Come on, what are the chances?”
    Billet says – while the stunt was clearly dangerous – as an amateur photographer, it was exciting to capture on film.
    “It was clearly planned, well orchestrated, well landed. However, this is the part that scares me, there’s balconies there, they could have got caught up on that, they could have knocked over seniors citizens who are always walking along here, or worse yet – get hit by a car, tumbled down onto this thing… it was exciting as it was stupid.”
    Police officers are continuing to investigate and are warning potential copycat jumpers of the risks and consequences of this activity.
    “Regardless of how well-prepared jumpers believe they are, this is a very dangerous and illegal activity not at all suited for an urban environment,” says EPS Inspector Brian Nowlan.
    “The safety of the jumpers and persons on the street has to be considered as everything is over in a matter of seconds. There is the real potential for things to go wrong – with equipment or wind conditions or even traffic on the street – and there is the real possibility of injury and death as well as property damage. Thankfully, there have only been a few of these incidents here over the years. Depending on the circumstances, jumpers can face charges such as trespassing, break and enter, or mischief.”

  2. #2

    Re: Edmonton police investigate base jumping incident

    EDMONTON – Police have charged three people in connection with a base jumping incident that took place in the downtown area over the August long weekend.

    Two men – a 34-year-old from Edmonton and a 27-year-old from Australia – along with a 26-year-old Edmonton woman have each been charged with trespassing, which carries a fine of $287.

    On the evening of August 4th, downtown officers received reports of a suspected break and enter at a high-rise construction site in the area of Jasper Avenue and 119 Street. Police also received reports from witnesses of three people parachuting – or base jumping – from a building.

    The three were believed to have entered a fenced and locked construction site, and then parachuted from one of the top floors of the building, landing a short distance away on Victoria Promenade before leaving in a waiting vehicle. Witnesses who saw the incident called police, but the officers who responded were not able to catch the individuals that night.

    It wasn’t until just over a week later, this past Wednesday, that officers charged the three people thanks to help from the public.

    “The public was very instrumental in providing information in relation to this incident,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Ray Akbar, EPS. “And we want to thank the public for their assistance in providing us not only with witness statements and eye witness accounts, but also with camera footage, as well as a Crime Stoppers tip that resulted in the arrest.”

    Police say the three individuals were very cooperative and remorseful for their actions.

    While there were no damages to property, and no one was injured or died in this base jumping case, police are reminding sport enthusiasts that regardless of their skydiving skills, base jumping in the city is illegal.

    “There are too many risk factors involved and the risk to the public is fairly great,” said AKbar. “As much as this is a stunt, it is a dangerous act. And for anyone considering it in the future, it could result in a criminal charge.”

    He added that organizers of skydiving activities within the city need to have legal permission from affected property owners, and ensure they have the appropriate liability insurance, as well as make the necessary arrangements with civic and emergency services.

    video Security video: base jumping investigation | Watch GlobalNews Videos
    Last edited by airdog07; August 21st, 2013 at 10:05 PM.

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