'It's shocking': Police seize millions in paintings from art dealer in Oak Bay, B.C.
Saanich police say thousands of pieces artwork worth tens of millions of dollars have been seized after officers began investigating an art dealer in Oak Bay, B.C., this month.
The investigation began on April 11, after police received a report that someone gave four paintings to a man for consignment sale at an art gallery in Oak Bay, but never heard back from him.
The art included three paintings by Emily Carr, and one waterclour painting by David Blackwood.
Police say the owner grew suspicious when the gallery closed and the art dealer stopped all contact with them.
Investigators later learned that other victims had similar stories.
"The dealer was taking art from people with the intention of consigning or appraising the art, later ceasing all contact, all the while selling the art without reimbursing the owners or artists," said Const. Markus Anastasiades.
Detectives later executed search warrants at three storage sites in Saanich, Oak Bay and Langford, where more than 1,000 pieces of art were located and seized.
Police say 600 pieces were found in Saanich, more than 100 were recovered in Oak Bay, and more than 300 were seized in Langford.
Some of the higher-valued pieces included four works that are valued at $85,000 each, according to police.
Many of the pieces were painted by Canadian artists, including approximately 126 works created by Joseph Plaskett, roughly 30 pieces made by Herbert Siebner, and approximately 27 paintings made by Jean McEwan, police say.
The art dealer was arrested on April 21, and has since been released on conditions until his next court date.
Police say they're recommending charges of fraud and false pretense.
CTV News has learned the investigation is centred on the Winchester Galleries on Oak Bay Avenue.
The gallery owner told CTV News he intends to defend himself against all charges.
'EGREGIOUS BREACH OF TRUST'
Anita Blackwood, who is married to David Blackwood, says the incident is "shocking" and has been occurring for years.
In early 2019, Blackwood says she and her husband received a letter from the previous owners of the gallery saying they had sold it to a man – which kicked off a roughly two-year ordeal to try to get their works back.
She says that lawyers were involved, and that about 13 of the more than 60 pieces they had stored at the gallery were never returned.
"My attitude is that somewhere those pieces have been sold along the way," she told CTV News.
"He sold them and people are happily enjoying them in their homes or offices and are none the wiser that they're stolen property," she said. "But in a way they're not, they paid for it. It's just the artist hasn't been paid for it."
David and Anita Blackwood are pictured. (Peg McCarthy)
Blackwood says their personal art website had been contacted multiple times over the years by other artists who saw that at one point David's artwork had been displayed at Winchester Galleries.
"(They'd say), 'Do you know where this man is? He asked me to have an exhibition, he sold X number and still has X number (of pieces) and I have no idea where he is. I don't know how to contact him,'" Blackwood says of the messages.
"Those are people who are depending on that income for their livelihood," she said. "This is a stunning example, in the Canadian art world, a dramatic example of an egregious breach of trust."
The art is now being stored in a secure location, police say, and investigators are trying to return all the artwork to its rightful owners.
"We believe there are individuals who have attempted to reclaim their artwork, associated to the Oak Bay gallery, but have not been successful in doing so," said Anastasiades. "We are asking for these people to reach the Saanich Police by email at art@saanichpolice.ca."
None of the charges have been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.