A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a vicious assault on a security guard that Vancouver police say may have had racial undertones.
John Alexander Thomas Stronach of Burnaby was arrested in downtown Vancouver on Thursday and has now been charged with robbery, aggravated assault and uttering threats.
Police believe he is responsible for repeatedly kicking and punching a 26-year-old guard at a residential building on Pacific Boulevard on Aug. 4. The Vancouver Police Department's hate crimes unit became involved because racial slurs were overheard during the attack on the young worker, who is of South Asian descent.
The guard had asked a small crowd of people who were being loud to move on when he was attacked by one of the men in the group, according to police. The suspect also took the guard's wallet and cell phone.
According to police, the assault was so violent that two Good Samaritans were moved to intervene and call police. They later waited with the guard until police arrived and he was taken to hospital for treatment.
Stronach is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Sept. 15.
