Community Alert: Wanted Mission RCMP Suspects Caught in Richmond Mall

Section 1: The Alert

Two men previously wanted by Mission RCMP – 28-year-old William Beale and 19-year-old Dayton Zahn – have been taken into custody in Richmond, British Columbia. The arrests occurred on the afternoon of April 13, 2026 at Richmond Centre Mall after police were alerted by an on-duty mall security guard.

Officers from Richmond RCMP, including the Bike Patrol Unit and Gang Enforcement Team, pursued three males who attempted to flee on foot through the mall and into a nearby parkade. Beale and Zahn were arrested following the chase, while a third male escaped and is still being identified through CCTV review. Both arrested men remain in custody as of the date of this alert.

Section 2: Official Details

According to the official information from Mission RCMP, both individuals were the subject of earlier public releases related to serious criminal allegations.

Background on William Beale (28)

A media release issued on December 10, 2025 by Mission RCMP advised the public that William Beale was wanted in connection with multiple alleged offences, including:

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Several incidents of failing to stop for police
• Possession of stolen property over $5,000
• Assault with a weapon
• Failing to comply with court-ordered conditions
• Escape from custody related to an incident in May 2025

Background on Dayton Zahn (19)

On March 18, Mission RCMP issued a separate wanted notice for Dayton Zahn. At that time, he was being sought for the following alleged offences:

• Robbery
• Extortion
• Forcible confinement
• Assault with a weapon

The public release naming Zahn attracted significant attention online, with roughly 1.5 million views on the Mission RCMP Facebook page. This heightened awareness appears to have played a key role in his eventual detection by a vigilant security guard.

Arrest in Richmond Centre Mall

On the afternoon of April 13, 2026, a security guard working at Richmond Centre Mall saw three males walking together and believed one of them to be Zahn based on the widely shared wanted information. The guard notified police officers already present in the mall, prompting a coordinated response by the Richmond RCMP Bike Patrol Unit and Gang Enforcement Team.

When officers approached, the trio allegedly ran, triggering a foot pursuit through the mall and into a multi-level parkade. During the escape attempt, the suspects jumped down between levels of the parkade, landing on a parked vehicle and causing substantial damage, including a crushed roof and shattered rear window. Police were able to arrest Zahn and Beale at the scene; a third male fled and has not yet been publicly identified. Investigators are currently analyzing CCTV footage to determine the identity of the third person involved.

Both men are currently being held in custody. No request for further public assistance has been issued at this time beyond general encouragement to report sightings of wanted individuals safely to police.

For residents in smaller or more remote communities in British Columbia, similar cooperation between security personnel, police, and the public is critical to addressing violent and property crime. Local crime patterns in areas such as Zeballos, British Columbia crime statistics and safety data and Zoht 4, British Columbia crime and safety information highlight how quickly serious offenders can move between jurisdictions, underscoring the importance of community vigilance province-wide.

Section 3: CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident demonstrates how public awareness, online information sharing, and quick actions by frontline staff can directly contribute to arrests in serious violent and property crime cases. Offences such as robbery, extortion, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, and dangerous driving pose substantial risks not only to targeted victims, but also to bystanders and the wider community.

If you believe you recognize a wanted person or witness a crime in progress, the safest approach is to avoid confrontation, move to a secure location, and contact your local police or 911 as appropriate. Security staff, retail workers, and members of the public should take note of details such as clothing, direction of travel, and any vehicles involved, rather than trying to physically intervene. Community reporting, when done safely, is a key part of building safer neighbourhoods throughout British Columbia.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the british-columbia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.