Image: Vancouver Police Department / The Vancouver Police Department says an investigation by its department that took several months has led to mischief charges against 15 people stemming from a riot at the Breakout Festival at the PNE Amphitheatre in Vancouver in September 2022. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Charges laid in PNE riot

Charges laid against 15 people in riot at PNE in 2022: Vancouver PD

Sep 19, 2023 | 10:30 AM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Police Department says an investigation by its department lasting several months has led to mischief charges against 15 people stemming from a riot at the Breakout Festival at the PNE Amphitheatre in Vancouver last summer.

“We spent months collecting evidence and analyzing video in the aftermath of the Breakout Festival, and we promised to do everything we could to arrest those responsible for their violent and destructive behavior,” says Inspector Dale Weidman, who led the investigation for VPD’s Major Crime Section. “We’re grateful to everyone who came forward with tips and helped us identify these suspects.”

Vancouver Police launched a criminal investigation after the last-minute cancellation of a headline act at the PNE Breakout Festival on September 18, 2022, when a small number of concert goers deliberately destroyed property in and around the venue, causing more than $300,000 damage and sparking street-fights in the surrounding residential neighbourhoods.

Vancouver Police made multiple arrests and have launched a criminal investigation after violence erupted when a concert was abruptly cancelled last night at the PNE Amphitheatre. Fights broke out inside and outside the venue, and significant property damage occurred when destructive concert-goers became hostile following an announcement that a headlining act would not be taking the stage.

“Vancouver Police officers were already inside the venue and providing extra security when several hundred people began fighting and destroying property in the Amphitheatre, on the PNE grounds, and in the surrounding neighbourhood,” says Constable Tania Visintin. “Dozens of extra officers were redeployed from other areas of the city to restore order, with some officers having bottles and other objects thrown at them.”

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Metro Vancouver Transit Police were among the officers who responded and helped Vancouver Police restore order. Garbage bins and food vendor kiosks were overturned and damaged during the chaos. Tables, refrigerators, and tents were knocked down and thrown. Several people climbed various fixtures including a tall lamp post.

Investigators analyzed security images from the venue and collected cellphone video from bystanders to identify the people responsible for inciting the violence and destroying property after the concert was cancelled.

B.C. Prosecution Service has now approved mischief charges against 15 people.

Those charged are all men aged 15 to 22 at the time of the offences. All but three suspects live in communities outside Vancouver, with some living as far away as Prince George, Vancouver Island, and the Okanagan.