Four people from Maple Ridge are being investigated for participating in a riot last month following the Stanley Cup final in downtown Vancouver.
So far, 30 men and seven women have turned themselves in to police, who have 50 officers from around Metro Vancouver investigating the June 15 rampage that erupted after the Vancouver Canucks lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals to the Boston Bruins.
"There are many challenges in this investigation, not the least of which is the sheer amount of evidence and information that must be painstakingly analysed to ensure a complete and thorough investigation," said a news release from the Integrated Riot Squad.
"The team is still fine-tuning the infrastructure that is dealing with the unprecedented volume of data."
After asking the public to submit videos and photos of the riot, the force received 4,300 email tips and is currently sifting through 15,000 images and 1,500 hours of video.
Besides the 37 who turned themselves in, the team is investigating an additional 111 people on a slew of charges that include arson, assaulting peace officers, theft, assault and robbery.
Hundreds more have been identified and will become the subject of an investigation in the coming months.
The team has also catalogued hundreds of images of people that will be closely examined.
Once properly processed as evidence, the images will be released to the public to assist investigators in identifying even more suspects.
So far four Maple Ridge residents have turned themselves in, including Nathan Kotylak, the teen caught on camera trying to light a police car on fire. He has yet to be charged.
The 17-year-old junior national water polo player was first outed online through Facebook by people who recognized him. He has since publicly apologized for participating in the mayhem and chose to waive the protection afforded to him as a young offender.
Like other identified rioters, Kotylak was viciously attacked and threatened online. His cell phone number and home address were posted on websites, forcing his family to flee their Maple Ridge home.
Kotlyak has also received a provisional suspension from Canada's junior national water polo team.
In numbers:
• 202 recorded incidents with anywhere from 1 to 300 suspects for each;
· 4,300 email tips to date;
· 1,700 emails requiring investigation;
·1,500 video hours to review;
·15,000 images;
·3,000 individual video data files;
· 431 tasks assigned for follow-up investigators currently, including tips.
Rioters hometowns:
• 7 – Vancouver;
• 9 – Surrey;
• 2 – Abbotsford;
• 3 – Burnaby;
• 1 – Coquitlam;
• 2 – New Westminster;
• 2 – Delta;
• 2 – North Vancouver;
• 4 – Maple Ridge;
• 1 – Victoria;
• 1 – Tofino;
• 1 – Comox;
• 1 – West Bank;
• 1 – Langley.