Dennis Karbovanec moved away from Port Moody Wednesday and notified the police department as required by his bail conditions on a series of fraud chargesKarbovanec's associate Jonathan Bacon is still living in Port Moody, but also expected to move shortly.
"I am relieved and the residents of Port Moody are very relieved," Trasolini said of Karbovanec's departure. "The community of Port Moody is safe and I said from the beginning that these individuals are not welcome. He said he has not been told where Karbovanec has moved.Last month, the mayor and police officials publicly warned that Karbovanec was living in their community and anyone around him could be at risk because he had been targeted by rivals.
Trasolini said Thursday that his residents have been very patient and vigilant during the difficult two months since Karbovanec came to town."I really want to acknowledge the residents," he said.
The close associate of the Bacon brothers was shot Dec. 31, but survived and refused to cooperate with police.
Karbovanec is out on bail in the fraud case as well as a series of gun charges laid after Abbotsford police stopped him in October and allegedly found a loaded handgun with silencer in a secret compartment in his vehicle.He was wearing body armour.The two younger Bacon brothers - Jarrod and Jamie - are also out on bail and living at their parents' Abbotsford home.All four men have been tailed by marked and unmarked police vehicles for two months because of an escalation in Metro Vancouver's gang war that has led to several of their associates being targeted.Associate Kevin LeClair was gunned down Feb. 6 in Langley and another close friend, Tyler Willock, was shot at Feb. 16 in Surrey and later beaten with a sledge hammer. He remains in hospital.The Bacons and their Red Scorpion associates have been targeted by the UN gang since at least last spring when police issued the first public warning to steer clear of the gangsters in public settings.Port Moody residents are breathing a sigh of relief after reports that a notorious resident has left their community. Police here confirm that Dennis Karbovanec -- alleged to be a member of the Red Scorpions gang -- is no longer living in the Vancouver suburb. Karbovanec had been under constant police surveillance in Port Moody after being targeted for death by a rival gang. That's because police were concerned about the public's safety. Karbovanec had been living at this high-rise condo for several months. On Wednesday, he informed police as required by the courts that he would be moving out of the area. Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini said he is pleased. "I'm smiling because there has been a lot of pressure on the residents of Port Moody, a lot of frustration on a small but active community." Trasolini said. "Were used to having very safe neighbourhoods and this put a bit of a cloud over that lifestyle. And I'm relieved that threat is gone."
However, police have not revealed the location of Karbovanec's new home.