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Transit police apprehend suspect involved in Lower Mainland gang activity

Luis Manuel Baez, 23, was spotted in the parking lot of Metrotown mall Tuesday afternoon
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Transit police say they’ve apprehended alleged gang member Luis Manuel Baez and he’s now facing multiple charges. (Metro Vancouver Transit Police)

Transit police say they’ve apprehended an alleged gang member and he’s now facing multiple charges.

Sgt. Clint Hampton announced the arrest of 23-year-old Luis Manuel Baez on social media Wednesday (May 19).

Baez was reportedly stopped by officers Tuesday at 3:40 p.m. in the parking lot of Metrotown mall in Burnaby.

The suspect was “openly smoking marijuana in a location contrary to the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act,” according to officers.

A short time after Baez was approached by police, he took off running into the driver’s seat of a nearby parked car.

After a brief struggle between him and officers, Baez was rendered unable to start the vehicle.

READ MORE: Police issue warning for 8 more men involved in Lower Mainland gang conflict

Officers saw him remove a handgun from his waistband and discard it under a parked car, Hampton said. The weapon was a loaded, semi-automatic .45-calibre handgun.

“We are happy to have taken another firearm off the streets and out of the hands of an alleged gang member,” he added.

Baez has been charged with one count of obstruction and multiple firearms offences.

The date of his court appearance has not yet been set.

RELATED: Police report 15 gang-linked killings in Metro Vancouver in 2021 as tensions escalate



sarah.grochowski@bpdigital.ca

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