Abbotsford police are warning the public about three individuals they believe pose a risk of "significant harm to the safety of the community and anyone who may associate with them."
The Abbotsford Police Department (APD) issued a public safety notification on Thursday morning, advising the public of three men involved in an ongoing conflict and a "criminal lifestyle that includes violence drugs and weapons."
“We believe it is in the public’s best interest that the identities of these men are known so people associating with or in close physical proximity to them understand their safety could be in danger," said Sgt. Casey Vinet. “Efforts to curtail growing tensions between these individuals are being made but we are very concerned that violence could occur in public settings.”
Vinet said police believe the men are connected to some recent violent incidents in Abbotsford, but at this point are not making connections to any specific cases.
The men are: Sandeep Singh Sidhu, who police describe as 27 years, 188 cm (6’2”) and 91 kg (201 lbs.); Jimi Singh Sandhu, 25 years, 180 cm (5’11”) 86 kg (190 lbs.); and Gavinder Singh Grewal, 27 years, 175 cm (5’9”) 95 kg (210 lbs.)
Sandhu has two criminal convictions for assault with weapon and possession of an unauthorized prohibited or restricted weapon. He is prohibited from possessing firearms.
He was charged last year with second-degree murder in the killing of Red Scorpions gangster Matt Campbell, but charges were dropped in February, due to what Crown said was an unlikelihood of conviction.
Campbell, a close friend of the Bacon Brothers, died Jan. 2, 2014, after staggering into a Fraser Valley Auto Mall business bleeding profusely from his neck.
In January 2011, Sandhu was among four people charged with a home invasion and abduction, but those charges were also stayed, due to insufficient evidence to proceed.
In 2006, Sidhu, then 19, was charged with three counts of attempted murder following a stabbing outside a Vancouver nightclub. He was later convicted of three counts of aggravated assault.
On Dec. 20, 2014, he was charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and one count of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He was released on bail in February and his next court date is set for April 20.
Grewal also has a criminal record, with a 2012 conviction for extortion and a 2013 conviction for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Earlier this month, police said that two recent incidents in west Abbotsford involving gunfire could be related, with a potential for escalating tensions and threats to public safety.
At that time, Abbotsford police Const. Ian MacDonald said one of the homes struck by bullets is associated to a known South Asian gang member, whom he wouldn’t name.
Anyone with information about the activities of these individuals is encouraged to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
-with files from Vikki Hopes