Metro Vancouver Transit Police have arrested a suspect following a series of five seemingly random assaults on transit passengers.
The first incident occurred on October 29 last year at about 10:30 pm in front of Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station in Vancouver. A man was disembarking the number nine bus when he was approached from behind by the suspect who then allegedly kicked the victim several times in the legs and attempted to hit him in the face.
The second incident occurred on January 6, 2022, at about 5:30 pm, near Royal Oak Station when the suspect, who was seated on board a SkyTrain, got up from his seat and, without provocation, allegedly kicked the victim in the face. The third and fourth alleged assaults occurred on January 26th, 2022, at about 8 pm.
The suspect, again without provocation, first allegedly punched a fellow passenger in the back of the head 3 or 4 times on board a SkyTrain near Metrotown Station. Shortly after, the suspect boarded another train and allegedly hit a second passenger in the face with an empty beer can.
In the last incident reported to police, which occurred on February 3, 2022, at about 5 pm near Patterson Station, the suspect allegedly punched a SkyTrain passenger in the face 5 or 6 times while on board the train. In all incidents, the suspect and victim were not known to each other, and there was no interaction between the two prior to the alleged assaults.
The Metro Vancouver Transit Police General Investigation Unit linked this series of assaults to one suspect. Metro Vancouver Transit Police are recommending five counts of assault for a 35-year-old New Westminster man who is known to police.
“Thankfully, none of the victims in these incidents sustained serious physical injuries. However, the escalating violent behaviour of this individual is very concerning, especially given that it was directed at complete strangers. Everyone has the right to feel safe on transit and violence of any kind will never be tolerated,” said Constable Amanda Steed.
N_Dj says
NO Constable Amanda Steed… !!!
“Everyone has the right to feel safe on transit and violence of any kind will never be tolerated,” is just an official damage control statement for a serious issue we have here… Tell this to people who took the hits, received bodily injuries and suffered pain… It does not help them a bit…
If police is not around and if, with the surveillance cameras everywhere around, takes you 5 assaults and 5 months to identify a criminal, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE, including the lethal force against those psychopaths roaming free and attacking random people.
A simple right to have and use a small can of pepper spray could have stopped this criminal perhaps after the first attack and held him till police arrested him. Wouldn’t need to have 4 more people injured…
Only if politicians and police would start working for people and not for their own interests!
We should bring the justice back, start protecting the victims and punishing the criminals…
Also, punish the lunatics who promote the soft-line against the criminals!