News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABBOTSFORD, BC, February 27, 2007 - At around 9:30 pm on February 26, 2007, an inmate took another inmate hostage. The incident occurred in the Intensive Intervention Unit. Crisis negotiators were deployed immediately. The Institutional Crisis Command centre was opened and the emergency response team was on site.

During ongoing negotiations, the hostage was released at approximately 12:30 am on February 27th. The hostage was examined by on site health care and taken to outside hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

This is the first incident of hostage taking to occur since the Intensive Intervention Unit opened a year ago. CSC will be conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Abbotsford City Police are investigating and criminal charges are contemplated.

Fraser Valley Institution is a multi level security facility operated by the Correctional Service of Canada. It is located in Abbotsford and has a population of 60 federally sentenced female offenders.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Maria Dalziel
Assistant Warden, Management Services
604-851-6003