Police dog and 15 people will be ‘jailed’ in Surrey Crime Stoppers fundraiser Friday

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers will hold its annual public Jail & Bail fundraiser at Central City Plaza in Surrey beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Business and community leaders will be mock-arrested and placed behind bars, then asked to call friends and colleagues to raise their bail money.

The jailed fundraisers include police service dog Shelby, described as a four-legged detective wanted for taking “follow the lead” too literally, especially when the lead is invisible to everyone else. Fifteen people are also slated for mock arrest, including some on the civic campaign trail: Mary Ann Bell, Marisa Bonilla, Mike Bose, Cheney Cloke, Owen Coomer, Garry Gill, Kam Jugpal, John Kearns, Heather Martin, Geetanjli Sharma, Clint Stewart, Norman Stowe, Gary Tymoschuk, Rich Ulvild and Dylan Van Rooyen.

Former Canucks star Darcy Rota will serve as the event’s judge, publicly reading the trumped-up charges and setting bail. Participants cannot leave the mock jail until they raise their required amount.

Executive director Karen Reid Sidhu, who has held the role since June, said Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers is a registered charity, not a police service, and relies solely on fundraising. The bail money will support youth programs on internet safety, gang activity and cyberbullying, as well as programs helping seniors recognize and prevent scams and fraud. Jail & Bail events are also held in Vancouver and Richmond. Details are available at solvecrime.ca/index.php/en/events/jail-and-bail-2026 .