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Maple Ridge woman honoured for alerting police

Susanne Murphy called 911 after spotting the van of a suspected murderer
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Mayor Ernie Daykin and Supt. Dave Walsh took Susanne Murphy for lunch on July 4 to thank her for alerting police to Angus Mitchell.

A Maple Ridge woman who alerted police to an accused murderer will be honoured with an award for her quick thinking.

Ridge Meadows RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh and Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin treated Susanne Murphy to lunch July 4 to thank her for helping police capture Angus Mitchell.

Murphy was heading to the dike at the end of 216th Street to walk her dog Tuco when she heard a warning over the radio asking people to call 911 if they saw Mitchell’s green van.

Police were hunting Mitchell after he killed two people inside a Burnaby sushi restaurant on May 27, then shot and injured his former landlord in Burnaby on May 29.

Police kept Murphy on the phone for an hour and asked her to keep other dog walkers from leaving the area, while Ridge Meadows RCMP blocked off roads and mustered the emergency response team. Mitchell was shot by police after he opened fire on officers. He died in hospital.

“It is the quick thinking and selfless actions of local citizens like Susanne that makes our’s such a great and safe community,” said Supt. Walsh.

“In my book, she is a hero, and I have absolutely no doubt that her actions that day did in fact save lives”

Murphy will be honoured formally next year at the Ridge Meadows RCMP Officer in Charge Awards.