A Williams Lake man who drew the attention of the city and then Prince George MP Todd Doherty, is making his way through the court system.
In April, Jacob Funk was arrested and charged in relation to incidents at 150 Mile House, near Williams Lake. Funk faces charges of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and assault resulting from the police file.
Funk was released and then rearrested in May after a reported break and enter at a Williams Lake business. Funk and Sekani Poole, a co-accused, are facing charges of break and enter with intent to commit an offence, disguising face with intent to commit an offence and Funk faces the additional charge of breach of a release order as a result of the police file.
The 26-year-old Funk was then released again.
On June 7, police arrested Funk once again, this time for an alleged breach of an undertaking. But Funk was out again when on June 12, police arrested him in relation to an incident which has now led to charges of assault, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and two more breaches of undertaking charges.
Funk's series of alleged offences, subsequent arrests and releases, spurred a response from the city's mayor and council.
Williams Lake's Mayor Surinderpal Rathor wrote a letter to Crown counsel on June 16 requesting Funk remain in custody until he appears in court.
"On behalf of the city of Williams Lake, we are voicing our strong concerns about the possible release of Jacob Daniel Funk into our community," wrote Rathor, in the council-supported letter to Crown counsel.
He said the release of those breaching bails conditions puts a strain on police resources.
"The actions of this individual have put our residents and property at significant risk," states the letter, noting the impact on crime statistics and the city's reputation.
The letter then garnered more attention to concerns around repeat offenders, as Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty spoke in the House of Commons at Question Period in relation to the letter. Doherty asked the federal government why repeat offenders are not being held after they breach the conditions of their release, sometimes multiple times.
"He's wreaking havoc on the citizens of Williams Lake and this prime minister is letting him," said Doherty.
Secretary of State for Combating Crime Ruby Sahota responded in agreement with Doherty regarding keeping those at risk of repeat offences in custody.
"We are on the same page," she said.
"Repeat violent offenders should not be released," said Sahota, noting there is nothing preventing judges from refusing bail to offenders accused of violent crimes or who pose a flight risk. She instead pointed the finger at provinces for not ensuring the facilities exist to hold the accused and invited provincial leaders to "step up" and work with the federal government to address the issue.
Mayor Rathor told the Tribune on July 3 he had not yet gotten a response to the city's letter.
Funk remained in custody in Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre as of June 25, when some of his files came up in a Williams Lake courtroom and the matters were adjourned, as court was told a bail plan was being worked on.
Crown informed the court they would be proceeding summarily in the matters, which meant the offences would be generally seen as less serious and carry less severe penalties or sentences. This option can help speed up the legal proceedings, lessening the burden on the system as well as the accused.
The person appearing as an agent for Funk's lawyer on June 25 requested the files be adjourned to July 16 in order for them to align with other files Funk has before the courts. Court Services still shows Funk's files appearing before a judicial case manager on July 4, 2025 in order to fix a date for the next stage in the proceedings.
Since Funk's latest arrest, his mother Melanie Funk has also spoken out, stating she is advocating for her son and applied for an assessment under the Mental Health Act to be conducted. In an interview with Coun. Scott Nelson on his social media page, she calls for all the different organizations to work together to ensure Jacob's as well as the community's safety.
