A suspect accused of hurling chairs through the windows of a Tim Hortons in downtown Vancouver Monday snapped after being asked to wait his turn in line, according to police.
Witnesses reported seeing a young man acting strangely inside the Davie Street coffee shop around 11:45 a.m. then asking for a glass of ice water.
Moments later, he allegedly pulled the Tim Hortons’ fire alarm and started tossing chairs through the windows.
“He was dumping coffee, hot coffee all over the counters,” said Steve Robinson, a local business owner who ran in to help.
Police said the man ripped a debit machine and cash register from the wall and smashed them on the ground, then continued throwing chairs out the window, spreading shattered glass on the sidewalk.
Witness Evan Roulea said the bizarre scene came to an end shortly after officers arrived.
“They were like pointing guns at the guy and eventually he just came down and then he lay on the floor and they took him down,” Roulea said.
Police said no one was injured and the cost of the damage has not been determined.
The unnamed 23-year-old was placed in the back of a police van, which was then seen rocking back and forth on the street.
Authorities would not speculate on a possible motive for the rampage, but said they will be requesting a psychiatric assessment for the suspect, who is known to police.
The incident wasn’t the first time patrons at that Time Hortons have witnessed trouble. In 2011 the coffee shop was the scene of a targeted, non-fatal shooting.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Maria Weisgarber
