Facebook photos from the profiles of Marc Valcourt, left, and Clark Dimond.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK
May 05, 2023 - 12:37 PM
A hostage was rescued after police intercepted two suspects – one from Kamloops and another from Vernon – who are accused of kidnapping in the Lower Mainland.
Cops in New Westminster learned on the evening of April 25 that a resident from that city was kidnapped, according to a media release from the New Westminster Police Department.
The force’s Major Crime Unit led the investigation and got an abundance of backup – support came in from the RCMP, Vancouver Police Department, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, and Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team.
“These investigations are very resource intensive,” Deputy Chief Const. Paul Hyland said in the release. “So I am very appreciative of the excellent work done by our investigators, and the amazing support we received from our policing partners”.
As evidence was obtained during the “rapidly unfolding investigation,” two men were intercepted by police and the hostage was rescued, the release says.
“Investigators were extremely concerned for the well-being of this individual,” Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in the release. “The safe rescue of the hostage and arrests of the suspects is in no doubt thanks to dedicated teams of skilled police officers.”
One suspect is Marc Kevin Valcourt, 42, from Vernon. The other is Kyle Clark Dimond, 40, from Kamloops. They remain in custody and are both facing the criminal charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement and use of an imitation firearm. Dimond is facing a fourth charge of assault with a weapon.
In addition to the four charges listed in the New Westminster police report, court documents show Valcourt was also charged with carrying a weapon or prohibited device/ammo concealed in Hope. His name comes up two dozen times in a search of B.C. court records.
His earliest charges on the public record were for impaired driving in October 2005.
Valcourt’s most recent charges before the kidnapping were for possession of a non-authorized firearm and possession of stolen property under $5,000. Other charges over the years include resisting arrest, impersonation with intent to avoid arrest, assault and driving while prohibited.
Dimond has had much less involvement with B.C.’s court system. His only files unrelated to the kidnapping include charges for not wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle without a license in July 2012, and an allegation of domestic assault from August 2022.
Valcourt and Dimond both remain in custody.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact the New Westminster Police Major Crime Unit at 604-529-2430 or email at mcucrimetips@nwpolice.org.
— This story updated at 1:55 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2023, with new information about the accused.
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