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 29th, 2021, 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 6th, 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 8:00 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 3rd, 2022, at about 5:00 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.” – Constable Amanda Steed
Anyone with any information regarding these incidents, or who may have been a victim of a similar incident and has not yet spoken to police, is asked to contact Transit Police by phone at 604.515.8300 or by text at 87.77.77