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Altercation at Richmond EV charging station leads to drug charges

Two New Westminster residents will be in Richmond Provincial Court on Sept. 7 to face drug charges.
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Drug charges were approved by Crown counsel for two people after an altercation at a Richmond EV charging station in late 2021.

On Oct. 9, 2021, Richmond RCMP responded to a “weapons call” after a 59-year-old Vancouver man, charging his EV, alleged he was threatened with violence.

Police arrived on scene and say they seized packages of drugs and a seven-inch knife.

A New Westminster man, Gurleen Singh, 22, has now been charged with three counts of possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking. Police allege he was in possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines.

Bo Ni Zhao, 31, also of New Westminster, is charged with one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

“The safety of our community is always of paramount concern,” said Insp. Mark Baxter of the Richmond RCMP, in a media release. “In this instance, what may have started as a minor altercation at an EV charging station escalated into a dangerous situation requiring police.”

He added that the “rapid intervention” of the RCMP may have prevented serious injuries.  

“The Richmond Mobile Enforcement Team specializes in these types of investigations. You will be hearing much more about them in the future,” Baxter added.

The charges were approved on Aug. 9. Zhao and Singh will be in Richmond Provincial Court on Sept. 7 to fix a date for a trial or a hearing.