Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 13/02) - Police are still not releasing any information about the circumstances surrounding the death of Hank Van Vulpen at a local bar Nov. 3.

RCMP Sgt. Al McCambridge said he cannot yet release any information about how Van Vulpen died.

Van Vulpen was forced to leave the Cave Club that night and died a short time later. No charges have been laid.

"The investigation is still ongoing. There are still some interviews that we have to complete before we feel we would be in a position to make a determination," said McCambridge.

Van Vulpen, 52, died after being medevaced to Edmonton following an altercation with a bouncer at the Cave Club.

Witnesses said they saw the bouncer grab Van Vulpen in a "bear hug" after he began kicking and swinging punches at him. Both men then fell to the floor.

Friends and co-workers of Van Vulpen, an underground miner at Con Mine, say they are angered and frustrated by the lack of information released by police.

"I'm pretty frustrated ... Hank was a pretty gentle soul and there was just no reason to do what they did to him," said Fred Davies, a fellow Con Mine worker.

Davies said he was shocked to hear that Van Vulpen became aggressive, claiming he never acted violently.

"I know Hank. Once he's drunk he ain't going to lift a leg to kick somebody. He would be too inebriated," he said.

Davies said Van Vulpen, who weighed only about 160 pounds, could never have physically hurt anyone.

"If you told him to get out, he would get out. He was a gentle soul.

"There was no need for his death. He would have done anything for anybody," he said.

McCambridge said RCMP will release information about Van Vulpen's death after the investigation has concluded.

"Condolences to the family for their loss, but it would be an injustice to jeopardize the investigation prematurely by disclosing information before we are ready," said McCambridge.