Whitehorse Daily Star

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VANDALISM’S TOLL – Yukon MP Ryan Leef is seen this morning with some of his damaged campaign signs.

MP, woman offer differing accounts of confrontation

After reports of Yukon MP Ryan Leef’s name being sawed out of his campaign signs last week, the culprit herself has gone public with her story.

By Aimee O'Connor on September 3, 2015

After reports of Yukon MP Ryan Leef’s name being sawed out of his campaign signs last week, the culprit herself has gone public with her story.

It involves camouflage, handcuffs and Leef screeching, “You are under citizen’s arrest!”

Leef responded to local media today with his side of the story.

The details in the woman’s letter are misleading and contradictory to what happened, he said.

In a letter she sent to local newspapers, Whitehorse resident Carrie Boles recounted what allegedly happened last Thursday when she went out with “romantic notions of civil disobedience” in her mind.

Boles is a full-time student at Yukon College, pursuing a career in education.

After 10 p.m. last Thursday, Boles hopped upon her purple bike, named “Sancho,” and rode along a stretch of the Alaska Highway near a rest stop before the turnoff onto the Mayo Road, where some of Leef’s campaign signs were appointed.

Steak knife in hand, Boles cut out Leef’s name and the Conservative logo on the signs – to “keep things clean.”

In an interview this morning, Boles said it was her second kick at the can with the campaign signs, having initially defaced them the night before.

Boles told the Star she wanted to bug the “poor guy” who had replaced all of the signs she had ruined the previous night.

She chalks the technically criminal act up to an “accumulation of emotion,” citing her need to “vent.”

As she moved onto the fourth sign in the row, she heard a rumble in the bushes behind her.

Two men emerged from the bushes – one balding and in all black, the other in camouflage.

She now identifies the men as Leef in the camouflage, and his campaign manager, Darren Parsons, in all-black.

Boles alleges that the man in camouflage, Leef, twisted her left arm behind her back and knocked her to her knees, telling her that she was under “citizen’s arrest.”

She was then handcuffed, and the RCMP were called.

Boles said she asked Leef to call again, after they had been waiting about 15 minutes.

“As I knelt, handcuffed in the pouring rain with the local Conservative Party member as my arresting officer – I silently called out to Canadians to vote for a more balanced government this upcoming election,” Boles wrote in her letter.

Once the police arrived, Boles was released with a warning.

During the time they had been waiting, Boles said she had “ridiculous” back-and-forth conversation with the men.

She asked what her rights were. Leef told her she should be channeling her energy in a different way, such as volunteering with a political party.

It is not Leef’s first arrest – he is a former RCMP officer.

The politician was also acting in accordance to the citizen’s arrest laws, as stated on the federal Department of Justice website.

If a private citizen sees a person in the act of committing or escaping from a crime, he or she may make a citizen’s arrest.

The person making the arrest must tell the suspect that he or she is making a citizen’s arrest, call the police and temporarily detain the suspect until police arrive.

The law allows a person to use as much force as is necessary to make the arrest, as long as that person is “acting on reasonable grounds.”

According to Boles’ story, Leef did just that.

Boles said he acted “professionally” toward her during the entire altercation.

She claims she did not know that destroying election signs is a crime, adding that the whole incident “shows how little (she) knows about the justice system.”

“I did something foolish. It was simply an act of civil disobedience,” Boles said.

“I would do it again.”

Boles suggests that Parsons and Leef were waiting in the bushes with handcuffs and motion sensor cameras set up, like lions stalking prey.

Leef is offering a slightly different account of the action, saying Boles had vandalized the signs not two, but three times.

Leef told the Star this afternoon he filed a police report after discovering the signs the first time and installed a camera to one of the signs, hoping to catch video and photo evidence to provide to the police.

After the second act of vandalism was completed, he said the camera had been knocked down.

He did not put the camera back with the new signs, saying that he was pondering where he might place it in the future.

“I swear I saw flashing lights,” said Boles, who is certain there was a motion sensor camera set up and photos of her being taken.

She also believes that Leef and Parsons had been waiting to catch her.

But Leef said he was driving into the city for coffee with friends when he saw, for the second time that day, damaged campaign signs.

He says he was fixing the signs when he spotted a woman dressed head to toe in dark clothing damaging his signs.

The camouflage jacket is part of his regular rain attire, he said – and handcuffs are something he carries.

During election time, Leef said, it’s expected there will be a certain amount of mischief to signage.

But this incident was different, he said.

“This was very clear that there was an intentional message being sent,” he told the Star.

“It was significant and it was planned.

This is a person who knows clearly that her behaviour is criminal.”

Leef said the act extends beyond the fact that it is costly to campaigns to repetitively replace signage.

“Yukoners are tired of this laissez-faire attitude that acts of vandalism are victimless crimes,” he said.

Boles is painting herself as a victim and trying to appeal to public sympathy, the MP said.

“If you look at social media,” Leef said, there’s a “clear backlash” in her direction.

Despite Leef disputing parts of Boles’ story, Yukon News editor John Thompson took to Twitter after publishing the letter Wednesday. He stated the News had confirmed the facts of the letter with Leef’s office before publication.

Campaign manager Parsons would only confirm that he was with Leef during the incident.

Whitehorse RCMP did not respond to calls before press deadline this afternoon.

Comments (69)

Up 15 Down 1

north_of_60 on Sep 9, 2015 at 2:49 pm

@Pjt1959 " What about some of the issues?"

The reaction to this incident proves that the general public doesn't care about "issues", they're far more interested in discussing people and personal attacks at people they don't like.

In this 'democracy', people generally get the government they deserve.

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Englishisafinelanguage on Sep 9, 2015 at 1:01 pm

Wales, Josey, Mr. If you are going to cite euphemisms to back up your non-arguments, at least cite accurately. Imitation is the SINCEREST form of flattery. Try again old man. (A thesaurus is your friend).

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Leef in Court on Sep 9, 2015 at 12:36 pm

Leef was found guilty on appeal: “[Leef]‘s own evidence is such that the only result could be a finding of guilt. Accordingly, I find the accused guilty.” http://www.yukoncourts.ca/judgements/supreme/2007/2009_yksc_68_r_v_leef.pdf

Mark S., nobody is perfect. But the Conservatives run on a law-and-order platform, and talk a good game about guilt. It's always other people who are guilty, according to them. Leef is in up to his neck in the rhetoric and now he's made a pretty despicable display of force. You may also want to minimize that, but he's an MP who appears to be a loose cannon on the street. Not to hammer a point into the ground, but this guy helps make laws. So sad as it is, his record has become relevant. He has a history of thinking the law applies to other people, not him.

In sentencing, the judge notes that Leef says he’d suffer a stigma if he had a record, so given his “peculiar situation” he was giving him a discharge and fining the company. So because the judge used his discretion, which the Conservatives are trying to remove from the judiciary, Leef managed to get elected without the Yukon media ever raising the issue. So he has done very well for himself by getting the benefit of the doubt.

http://www.yukoncourts.ca/judgements/supreme/2007/2009_yksc_69_r_v_leef.pdf

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Max Mack on Sep 9, 2015 at 12:21 pm

@Mark S
Point of clarification is in order.

Leef was indeed acquitted by the lower court judge. But the Supreme Court of the Yukon convicted Leef of wrongly reporting the kill location. Bizarrely, the Supreme Court also ruled Leef made an "honest mistake" and gave him an absolute discharge. By doing so, the court saved Leef's political career. Connect the dots.

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Mark S on Sep 9, 2015 at 11:41 am

Josy ohh Josey
Again, I am no booster for Ryan Leef, and of course no one is perfect- the following is taken from a newspaper article that discusses the case against Ryan:

The prosecution alleged Ryan and his hunting party rode two ATVs back to camp with the dead animal even though wheeled vehicles are banned in the area.
Territorial court Judge Cunliffe Barnett quickly dismissed that charge, insisting it was impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the men drove ATVs instead of hiking 20 kms through the bush with the heavy carcass.

Then the judge turned to a lesser charge that Ryan named the wrong place where the animal was killed when filling out an export form for his Colorado client’s trophy.
But he figured Ryan had made a careless mistake and acquitted him.
“None of us are perfect,” the judge said. “We got rid of the last person who some thought was perfect a couple of thousand years ago.”

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Josey Wales on Sep 9, 2015 at 9:59 am

ahhh..I guess it must be true, imitation IS the finest form of flattery.
One can be so, actually I encourage critical thinking even if it does not align with my values. To have ones OWN critical thinking skills, implies you "may not be" a sheep ready to bleat out your herders wishes.

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A very minor clerical error? on Sep 9, 2015 at 7:56 am

@MarK S

A very minor clerical error? How bout call it what it is: plead guilty to providing false or misleading information on a obligatory hunting report while being paid as professional guide. Killing big game in a protected area then reporting it falsely is much more than a clerical error. Give up to the facts and drink some coffee to wake up.

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Salar on Sep 8, 2015 at 7:03 pm

Mark S....the clerical error you refer to was the crime.....it reflects he misrepresented where he was....then he was charged for using a quad where you aren't allowed...meaning he lied, because he used a quad....remember how the two charges relate....don't misrepresent, it's uncool.....just like hiding in the bushes with handcuffs.....creepy too.

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Lost in the Yukon on Sep 8, 2015 at 5:04 pm

Dearest Pjt1959:

You ask "what about the issues" ... well quite frankly our current MP does not want to engage Yukoners in a discussion of the issues that are important to them or run on his record. The former because it would require him to say "I'll get back to you" and then call Ottawa for his opinion. The later because he has no record to run on.

He has milked this to create a distraction.

Up 24 Down 81

Mark S on Sep 8, 2015 at 12:24 pm

@Josey Wales on Sep 6, 2015 at 5:43 pm

Ryan was convicted on a very minor clerical error and he may have pleaded guilt. The factors included the fact that the CO's did not want to show any favoritism by accepting a mistake and they held a former CO's to the highest standard.

I may not vote for Ryan but feel compelled to defend him when it's justified.

Up 99 Down 63

Joe on Sep 7, 2015 at 6:15 pm

My point was that it takes a " big man " ( in this case two men) to jump out of bushes and assault a little woman damaging cardboard signs on public property. And, to top it off, pack hanfcuffs and actually use them to detain a woman.....wtf. This story is sickening, shows the true side of leef. This is not partisan, this is about the ethics of this person and I for one would never vote for such a person. And since I'm not looking for repeat failures, I am voting for Melissa, the person.

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Pjt1959 on Sep 6, 2015 at 10:54 pm

This has got out of hand on this. What about some of the issues? What parties are looking at carbon tax and what effect it will have on the cost of living for us in the north? What parties are going to put more gun control on law bidding people, what taxes are going up, do I believe that the rich are going to be taxed since they pay for the parties as a tax right off? These are what we should want to know not supporting a vandal and bashing the other persons. That is my rant.

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hunting guide on Sep 6, 2015 at 5:43 pm

Leef is a convicted hunting guide, so he knows how to hide in the bushes.

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More Leef large signs defaced in Copper Ridge on Sep 6, 2015 at 1:45 pm

What now and who should be accountable?

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James Wrent on Sep 6, 2015 at 1:44 pm

It what other democracy in the free world can we expect to see an MP behave like Rambo: dressed in Camo, packing handcuffs? That people actually elect people like that is far more troubling than a person defacing simple signs.

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maverick on Sep 6, 2015 at 11:51 am

Handcuffs? The sign of a vigilanty, or a bondage freak. Take your pick.
Maybe he thinks he's the Sheriff of Tombstone.
I think if this incident serves any justice it's finding out what Mr. Leef carries in his pocket; possibly a sign of Mr Leef's fantasy life, bizarre.

Up 17 Down 20

Aggrobc on Sep 6, 2015 at 11:44 am

Campaigns in general are a colossal waste. Elections Canada should deliver a point form booklet representing impartial party platforms and where to vote. Even in electronic form. That's it. Just saved millions that could be spent elsewhere. Then parties would have to have their sh*t together from the get go instead of making it up as they go along to pander to special interest groups and public opinion, which leads to weak and poorly constructed ideas.

As for this guy, anybody that walks around with handcuffs is looking for trouble.. proved by the fact he camped out in the rain to catch the dreaded sign baron. Seems the conservative caucus encourages taking the law into your own hands, not a good suit for your law and order government to wear.

Up 32 Down 35

They're Our Signs, Too on Sep 6, 2015 at 12:15 am

This "private property" aspect isn't the point. If destroying signs was okay, it helps create an unequal playing field. That's the point. If it's okay for the Conservatives, it's okay for the party you do like. Ten years of Harper's government hasn't sharpened anybody's mental faculties, it seems.

According to section 325 (1) of the Canada Elections Act: "No person shall prevent or impair the transmission to the public of an election advertising message without the consent of a person with authority to authorize its transmission."

Anyway, they're not really Leef's "private property", dumb excuse as it may be. The Conservative Party paid for them, and we the country will be reimbursing them for 50 percent. So they're 50 percent our property, apparently. Maybe Leef should check with us how far we think he should go. I say, not nearly that far.

Note to Leef: You know what's awesome, when a man behind you on the street lets you know he's there and not a threat. You...did not do that. The physical part of his action is really disturbing. I'm surprised that hasn't got more attention. He is very lucky Carrie Boles hasn't made more of an issue of that than she did.

Up 45 Down 10

north_of_60 on Sep 5, 2015 at 9:45 pm

"The signs are gaudy and ridiculous. Make a new bylaw that you are only allowed so many signs, regardless of party, and everybody gets the same number of signs..."

I agree with this suggestion. Make it so for all elections.
Besides that, half a dozen signs in a row looks silly and insults the voter's intelligence. People know his name.

If I was the least undecided before, then the sign antics have convinced me who I'm NOT voting for.

Up 53 Down 22

WhataJoke on Sep 5, 2015 at 9:31 pm

Every-time I pass one of the Leef signs on the highway, I imagine Leef sitting in the bushes with his campaign manager, looking through binoculars, handcuffs at the ready.

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Not allowed to vote but... on Sep 5, 2015 at 12:11 pm

Just read the highway act (see http://www.hpw.gov.yk.ca/trans/maintenance/know_the_road.html), which actually states that no signs (or anything at all) is allowed to be placed along the highway or in the highway exclusion zone. Permits are available for maintenance work (only?) with a maximum of 30 days. So how do these signs of Leef fit in that? Maybe this woman was helping him by removing the incriminating evidence of his name from the signs preventing the Yukon government going after him?

Up 57 Down 34

Rocker Portwell on Sep 5, 2015 at 10:06 am

"Come on she broke the law and she knew it," says one of your commenters, which is true as far as it goes. However, the response to her lawbreaking was probably also illegal and I hope the authorities in Yukon will properly investigate this situation. "Citizen's arrest" is a fairly murky concept in law, and inappropriately brutalizing the subject of a so-called citizen's arrest, as appears to have happened in this case, should be subject to a criminal investigation by a police force other than the one in which Mr. Leef once served. Neither party's story sounds particularly credible from this account, another reason for an independent criminal investigation. Minor acts of vandalism are are properly against the law. Brutalizing persons who are arrested for such acts are also properly against the law.

Up 76 Down 9

Yukon Justice on Sep 5, 2015 at 8:24 am

Thanks for making it so much easier to decide who to vote for.

Up 50 Down 14

Max Mack on Sep 5, 2015 at 6:28 am

I'm a little mystified as to why my comment from the other day still hasn't been posted.

Vandalizing elections signs is not a crime under the Criminal Code, although it is an offense under other legislation (which does not give it the status of a "crime"). Assault, however, is covered by the Criminal Code.

Up 84 Down 16

Jan van mil on Sep 4, 2015 at 10:14 pm

Who has handcuffs? Creepy guy

Up 72 Down 42

YukonCB on Sep 4, 2015 at 10:10 pm

Doesn't anybody care about what the Conservatives are doing to this Country? I think she was just voicing her opinion in the only way she knew how. Cutting holes in a few signs isn't a big fricken deal compared to what they are doing to this Country. They have a lot of money to make more signs anyway. Boo fricken hoo.
Open your eyes people.

Up 112 Down 30

Yukon 56 on Sep 4, 2015 at 7:44 pm

What a clown!!!! Only press he has had is this Goodbye and good riddance. Has done NOTHING for the Yukon except being Harpers puppet.

Up 32 Down 10

Ivan zenovitch on Sep 4, 2015 at 6:23 pm

I find if hard to believe that Ms Boles wouldn't have an idea that destroying signs would be illegal. They are private property. It was wrong. I also believe how Mr Leef handled it was wrong. Oh well.
But don't you think that Ms Boles did a bang up job of cutting. Beautiful work. That wasn't your regular hack job of civil disobedience. There was care and attention.

Up 56 Down 13

Rob Ford=Ryan Leef on Sep 4, 2015 at 6:03 pm

I agree with Yukon Mike. The signs are gaudy and ridiculous. Make a new bylaw that you are only allowed so many signs, regardless of party, and everybody gets the same number of signs, regardless of fat budgets in their party. And the only good thing I can see here is that I was appalled but amused by the Rob Ford antics and I thought we were finished with Canadian comedy politics for a while…but then we get dear Mr. Leef pulling a good ole Ford right here! Like Mr. Ford, Ryan, I hope that you too will become a part of our political history in October. Remember who to vote for--which ever party is going to take Mr. Leef and his good ole white boys club away, away, away.. away. Let's get some women, First Nations representation, and level headed, clear minded leadership. Larry all the way.

Up 51 Down 10

Yukon Raised on Sep 4, 2015 at 2:33 pm

@me from the US: I have to agree with you, it's a great place to live and I love the country but some days Yukon feels like living in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Right is wrong and bad is defended or justified.

Up 67 Down 57

LD on Sep 4, 2015 at 1:51 pm

This situation is so ridiculous.

This woman saying that "she didn't know what she was doing was a crime" is just making excuses for her poor behavior. Five year olds know better than to do something like this. Her actions were completely immature considering her main reasons were that they were ugly and she didn't support his politics.

If Ryan Leef wants to sit in a bush to see who was vandalizing his signs I say go for it. When I get off work I do nothing so he's more ambitious with his off time than I am. But a citizens arrest- REALLY?! Why didn't he call the police? Why is carrying handcuffs? I'm sick of all the petty vandalism and other crimes in Whitehorse these days myself but I'm not going to start carrying handcuffs and doing "citizen arrests"; you went a little too far there Mr. Leef.

Both parties were in the wrong with how they handled things. Hopefully both sides have learned from this experience.

Up 77 Down 24

Yukon Mike on Sep 4, 2015 at 12:34 pm

I won't be going around vandalizing signs and I don't condone what Miss Boles has done. But I also don't condone Mr. Leefs actions in this instance. I feel the amount of force he used was excessive, and Handcuffs? Really? You carry handcuffs? What business/reason do you have to carry them around? What he does in his home is his own business but I think that that just shows how paranoid he is. On a side note I think that all campaign signs should be banned from public property. I am already tired of looking at them and we have over a month to go till the election. They ruin our beautiful Yukon views, and the biggest offender is the Leef Campaign, as there is probably 3 times a many of those signs on public property then any of the others. They can't just put one at any location, they seem to think that they need a whole gaggle of them, like one location on the Alaska hwy where there is 7 of them in less then a 100m on the same side of the road.. Please ban the signs we are tired of them.

Up 168 Down 84

Vote for Larry! on Sep 4, 2015 at 12:23 pm

Everybody vote for Larry!! Get rid of this unbearable d-bag named Leef for good.

Up 148 Down 46

Politico on Sep 4, 2015 at 10:10 am

It sounds creepy to me. Two guys , creeping around in the dark handcuffing young women. Why would anyone carry handcuffs with them for any reason!

Up 131 Down 204

Yukoner on Sep 4, 2015 at 9:18 am

You people making the comments here really are the problem. Some dumb ass is out there vandalizing, gets caught and I don't care how why and by whom. Good now the rest of you can go and line up and hug this bimbo and maybe next time she'll be vandalizing your home because she doesn't like something you did. I say good on Ryan.

Up 111 Down 71

@what on Sep 4, 2015 at 8:14 am

So a person, who has aspirations of a career in education, plans and follows thru with defacing property - not once but twice, publically announces their actions after being caught. One would hope that educator's would have the ability to peer beyond the end of their nose.

Up 103 Down 54

Chris on Sep 4, 2015 at 7:43 am

Cutting up political signs isn't very fair but given the current state of the country and the strong feelings that Conservative leadership has generated over the past few years, more or less understandable. As for a politician and his campaign manager hiding in the bush with handcuffs? That’s difficult to explain outside of a comedy show but it does seem consistent with the conservative approach to just about everything over the past decade.

Up 114 Down 19

moose101 on Sep 4, 2015 at 7:39 am

Come on she broke the law and she knew it .

Up 125 Down 96

mrstudz on Sep 4, 2015 at 1:46 am

So what happens next time Carrie Boles 'has a bad week'... Theft? Fraud? Arson?Thank god she isn't my employee.
I guess riding your bicycle in a rainstorm at midnight, carrying a knife alone out on the middle of nowhere, intent on petty crime for 3 nights in a row is totally normal.

vs.

A trained RCMP officer bringing handcuffs to the site of an unknown number of vandals? Exactly what's crazy about that?
Leef let her go and she tries to go viral on the internet...then it backfires...

All I have to say is FAIL Carrie, this is about as embarrassing as it gets.

Up 93 Down 53

Me on Sep 3, 2015 at 10:20 pm

Commenting from the US, for all those who seem to be saying Carrie Boles is the victim, well just remember that when someone chooses to vandalize your property.
You Canadians sure seem to have a mixed up sense of what is right and wrong.

Up 94 Down 57

yk freedom junkie on Sep 3, 2015 at 10:16 pm

'a full time student with a bike named poncho' Yeah she sound like a real productive member of society, I'm surprised some level of govt. hasn't approached her with a job offer yet.

Up 86 Down 74

CJ on Sep 3, 2015 at 10:12 pm

People who applaud Leef have lost all sense of proportion. This woman's actions might be more in line with civil disobedience than a felony (granted, she's very hard to sympathize with), and it's telling that our MP, rather than use it as a teaching moment for election law, chose the physical option. (Not to mention with his ultimate wrestling or boxing or whatever it is, it seems pretty irresponsible for him to be manhandling a woman.)

It's also interesting that he stopped short of actually doing any paperwork to follow through, because he "didn't want to ruin her life". Yeah, right. I wonder if he snagged a flashing light to slap on his car roof when he's in a hurry, along with the handcuffs.

Up 132 Down 76

Rob Ford=Ryan Leef on Sep 3, 2015 at 9:42 pm

To all of you defenders of Ryan Leef: I agree that Ms Boles should not have defaced signs. Wrong. However, had Mr. Leef took a picture of her, witnessed her doing it, videotaped it and called the police and let them do their job, that would be different. You are completely ignorant, horrible, and malicious to take the law into your own hands. What if a teacher took the law into his/her own hands and did this to a student (say your kid or somebody's kid you knew)? I'm not defending her, I'm saying you went way over the top, Ryan, and acted just like an American ('God given right to arms and to defend myself' etc., etc., while kids get shot in school shootings because there are no gun laws).
I attended school with you and I used to respect you--no more. You are out of office--gone, gone, gone. I will vote in Larry and encourage all of my contacts to do so. Your YP is completely criminal and you guys can do all you want to break the law (Wade Ischencho's FB pics of a liquid lunch on the ATV, Darius Elias's drinking, driving and on cell phone with zero consequences…) but ya, hide out in your combo gear and attack a very strange lady who defaces your signs. Lucky she wasn't like many of your YP counterparts--all too happy to carry around her gun and shoot bears on the side of the road. While this story is entertaining, it is only because it is so stupid. Maybe you should move to Toronto and join Rob Ford. You two are cut from the same psycho cloth.

Up 131 Down 30

Mandy on Sep 3, 2015 at 9:33 pm

The irony in all this that isn't mentioned is Ryan himself was convicted of a crime a few years back. Further he ran robocalls in the last election. He's no angel. There is a reason he is a FORMER RCMP/conservation officer/jail guard.

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... fur lined on Sep 3, 2015 at 9:01 pm

Joe ... I suspect our local MP has fur lined handcuffs for special occasions.

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anonymous on Sep 3, 2015 at 8:25 pm

To Joe:
I want you to know I too am a 100 lb. female. If it was to do the right thing and dissuade people from breaking the law and actually stand up for what is right, you might meet me jumping out to make a legal citizens arrest. Just because you are bigger does not mean you are right in breaking the law. Sounds like a bully to me

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Incredulous on Sep 3, 2015 at 8:21 pm

This woman sounds like she is a few bricks short of a load.

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What are you trying to teach? on Sep 3, 2015 at 8:18 pm

I must say dear Carrie Boles, that your flair for the the dramatic is a bit over the top. What concerned me the most is that you are trying to become an educator. At your age and education and as a person who would possibly be teaching our children, you would try to say vandalism is your way of speaking out. Stop being proud or pleading that you did not know at your age. I find this defence offensive since I do work with children who already know what you did was wrong! Be a better person and admit your fault.

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Louisa Gee on Sep 3, 2015 at 8:11 pm

This woman is in a teachers program right now at the college and she's saying she would do it again??? What kind of message is she sending to her future students...it's ok to vandalize anyone else's property?? SHAME, shame on her! She should be charged and made to do some kind of community service, cleaning up other acts of vandalism around town. I call BS on her saying she doesn't/didn't know it's a crime to destroy someone elses property. And she's going to be a teacher...Yikes!! Come on lady, make a public apology...put your big girl panties on and take responsibility for what you've been doing.

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Pjt1959 on Sep 3, 2015 at 8:01 pm

Well glad to see people are not standing up for Boles. Just think, she wants to be a teacher. I wonder if she will be teaching B&E skills and vandalism as part of her class. I hope that the department of education puts her on a no hire list. To me, anyone that supports her actions supports crime. Yes, if you want to play you have to pay that statement is for all. People have lost jobs over stupid acts. As an employer I do not want a person who thinks it is ok to commit criminal acts. That is my rant.

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Wayne on Sep 3, 2015 at 7:24 pm

Ms. Boles got scared breaking the law. Aw, poor little thing. I think tangling with Ryan Leef might not be a good idea, 210 or not.

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not sure who to believe - but crazy all around on Sep 3, 2015 at 6:20 pm

I don't believe this woman at all, sounds like 6 kinds of crazy ... but it's pretty bizarre no matter what the real truth is. I don't like campaign signs either - but I would not be sneaking around at night vandalizing them

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WTH! on Sep 3, 2015 at 6:04 pm

She is pursuing a career in education, who wants her teaching their kids? Be interesting to know which party she supports.

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Leo Lennox on Sep 3, 2015 at 6:00 pm

Where can I get a set of handcuffs in town?

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Mike Hawk on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:56 pm

I appreciate how Whitehorse Star did some real journalism and covered both sides of the story instead of the Yukon News one sided, political agenda, editorial style approach yesterday. Shameful. They won't be getting any advertising out of me anytime soon.

Politics aside, this lady was a repeat offender in performing a criminal act and her gloating about it and becoming a local celebrity while playing victim is an embarrassment and I am glad so many readers are seeing through it.

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Russ JUBY on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:46 pm

Wouldn't The Rick Mercer show have fun with the antics of our illustrious hairless ninja? Ah, well, all the more reason to vote for Larry.

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VOTETHEMOUT on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:45 pm

The Government cookie-cutter was quick tonight. Massively disproportionate ratio of likes and dislikes. It's all very reminiscent of the phone call redirection scams sending non-Conservatives to the wrong polling booth. The Yukon Party hard at work at what they do best once again. Same old same old.

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North_of_60 on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:29 pm

'I have a good sense that it was wrong; I didn't know to what extent it was wrong,' says Carrie Boles about destroying several campaigns signs...
Typical leftist rationalization for doing something they know is wrong.

Wrong is wrong; got it now?

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Mark S on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:15 pm

This woman is not a victim. She vandalized signs 2 and perhaps 3 times. She carried a knife with her for this purpose and chose to destroy property as a way of venting and she somehow did not know if was wrong and unlawful.

A warning was too generous. She has written a satirical article about the PC party and Ryan Leef. My political views may differ from Ryan's but I do think his campaign signs should be protected by law and people like the self described victim should be help responsible for their actions.

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Groucho d'North on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:09 pm

An election brings out the best and the worst in people. Too bad it is also a showcase for the self-righteous who believe their opinions entitle them to break the law because they take a different view.

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Frediane on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:06 pm

This woman sounds a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

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joe on Sep 3, 2015 at 4:08 pm

Well now since I'm a 210 lb guy, I might go wander by those signs tonight and see if anyone jumps out at me with handcuffs...

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northern me on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:56 pm

National Post, Buzz Feed, 22 minutes is on deck! Special Indeed!

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Yukon Kas on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm

Seeing this story on social media and how everyone is getting on Ryan Leef for his actions... do remember that she was breaking the law and he was doing what people should do when they catch vandals at work. It doesn't matter if you like or support Leef, what matters is that someone felt they had the right to damage property knowing it was a crime. And she is trying to make it out that she was the victim. Would everyone treat a homeowner or a businesss owner the same way if they caught a vandal of their property in the same way? Would you question why that business owner was there to come out of the bushes to catch the vandal? If so, no wonder there are so much crime in the city... people go, why not, it is acceptable to the masses.

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Yukoner on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:43 pm

“Yukoners are tired of this laissez-faire attitude that acts of vandalism are victimless crimes,” he said.
Nobody is saying the woman didn't do wrong - but Leef should have called police when she arrived, rather than play Vigilante himself, dressed in camo, hiding in bushes with handcuffs and motion detector. A bit over the top, I'd say.
With the increase in vandalism, B&E's and thefts in this town, perhaps Leef would do well to advertise his services as a Security Hit Man.
I hear he will be job hunting soon.

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Sick and tired of always the other guy`s fault. on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:38 pm

Suck it up buttercup! You chose to commit vandalism and now you are crying foul because you got caught. And you didn't do it just once, but at least twice no less. No matter if you agree with Leef's party or not, you broke the law. You should be completely embarrassed by your actions not bragging about them to the world. This is what is wrong with today`s society. You do something wrong and rather than seeing YOU were the problem, you point the finger somewhere else. I don't care how bad of a day you are/were having, there will never be an acceptable reason to destroy property. You are no victim here, you ARE the problem. Many legal and constructive ways to get your points across that you don`t like a party than vandalism. You should be ashamed and thankful you got off with what you have.

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TheGingerNinja on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:34 pm

The unaddressed issue is still the one that questions Leef's belief that he has the inalienable right to deface the valley walls of Kluane National Park with his signage . Once again, I remind these opportunists that National Park property is OFF LIMITS to political electioneering. If he really needs to slap on the camouflage and act like a hairless ninja, then he can choose any National Park where a few hungry grizzlies can take him on -his handcuffs wont ally help him there though .

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Jack Malone on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:31 pm

Okay, Leef - maybe you shouldn't talk about this matter since you are only revealing yourself to be very strange and creepy. Really . . . who carries around handcuffs? This is a skit right out of "This Hour Has 22 Minutes." This is entertaining . . . in a very sad way.

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Thomas Brewer on Sep 3, 2015 at 3:27 pm

I think I'm going to start carrying handcuffs all the time, how's that sound?

Would like to hear what the RCMP would have to say about that...

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