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Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is calling out the federal government after two dangerous offenders were released into her community.
On Monday, the B.C. RCMP reported 58-year-old Leonard Ramstead was now living in Surrey.
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Notice of Ramstead’s release was made under the Privacy Act of Canada regarding a dangerous sex offender.
In 2019, Ramstead was convicted of sexual interference of a person under 16 years old and in 2021 he was convicted of sexual interference of a person under 14-years-old. He poses a risk to young children and adolescent girls.
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Ramstead is 5-foot-6 and weighs 234 pounds.
He cannot be in, near, or around anywhere that children aged 16 years or under gather.
Last Thursday, the B.C. RCMP warned 44-year-old Michal Popek, a dangerous sex offender, had been released and was living in Surrey.
Popek is 5-foot-5 and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown eyes and short brown hair.
Popek is on a statutory release before his sentence’s completion in December 2025, after which he will be subject to a 10-year Long Term Supervision Order.
In 2020, Popek was convicted of sexually assaulting four women from 2015-2016 and poses a risk to adolescent girls and adult women, including strangers.
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“I am absolutely appalled and outraged that not one, but two dangerous sex offenders have been released into our community in a mere two-week span,” Locke said.
“It is beyond comprehension why several high-risk offenders are being unleashed into our city, which has the largest youth population in B.C. This is utterly unacceptable. The blatant disregard for the safety and security of our community, particularly our most vulnerable individuals, is a grave injustice that cannot be overlooked.”
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Locke said Corrections Canada needed to ensure that dangerous offenders were released throughout all B.C. jurisdictions in a proportionate manner.
“This burden must be borne by all communities. I further call for rigorous monitoring following the release of any such individuals into this community so that it does not further task our police service and create risk for our residents. The protection of our community must be prioritized above all else,” she said.
Locke is in the midst of a legal battle with the B.C. government over her wish to retain the RCMP in Surrey and not continue with the rollout of the Surrey Police Service.
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