A suspect has been arrested by Vancouver Police and charged following an unprovoked attack on a woman in the downtown core Sunday morning.
The 35-year-old victim – a visitor to Vancouver – was walking near the cruise ship terminal at Canada Place shortly before 9 a.m. when a stranger assaulted her. She was repeatedly punched and kicked in the face and sustained multiple injuries that required medical attention at the hospital.
“The suspect and victim did not know each other and had no prior interaction before the assault occurred,” says Sergeant Steve Addison, adding that several people witnessed the incident, and some called 9-1-1. “We’re thankful to the bystanders who called police so our officers could respond immediately and collect valuable evidence that led to the quick arrest of the suspect.”
Vancouver Police patrol officers obtained video of the suspect from the crime scene. He was later arrested at a residential building near East Pender Street and Columbia Street. The suspect was taken into custody around 12:30 p.m. by a VPD canine officer and Police Service Dog.
The BC Prosecution Service has now charged 30-year-old Massimo Rosario Falvo with one count of aggravated assault. He is currently in custody.
Drew says
I was walking on Bailey Street a few months ago, listening to music and minding my own business. I guess I must have been smiling to myself when a guy in his 30s appeared out of nowhere and demanded that I tell him why I was laughing at him. I felt a stab of fear but somehow managed to say I wasn’t smiling at you. This was early morning, and there were few people around. I was lucky that he turned around and went his way. But many are not as fortunate and become just another crime statistic.
It’s maddening that we keep hearing about stranger attacks, and our police and judicial system has left us at the mercy of individuals who need to be in either jail or in hospital. Instead they in the streets, randomly picking targets, beating and attacking people who have done nothing to deserve this.