Police are crediting a group of construction workers with helping to end a dramatic crime spree that played out on the streets of downtown Vancouver Friday.
The incident began around 8:40 a.m. at a parking garage at Pender and Cambie streets, where a man allegedly carjacked a vehicle and sped off toward the busy intersection of Georgia and Hamilton streets.
There, police said the suspect struck multiple vehicles and a pedestrian before trying to flee the area on foot.
"He bounced off a number of vehicles and trash cans, he hit a pedestrian, then he got out and ran," Const. Jason Doucette said.
The pedestrian, who was crossing the street legally, suffered injuries that police described as serious but not life-threatening.
Two Good Samaritans, Malik Almaamiry and his father, saw the victim on the ground and tried to chase after the suspect, only to be sprayed in the face with bear spray.
"It's crazy, man," Almaamiry said. "It just happened so fast."
Police said the carjacking suspect continued running until he crossed paths with some construction workers. Though the suspect allegedly bear sprayed them as well, the group managed to hold him until officers arrived at the scene.
"(The suspect) came into contact with a number of construction workers, who challenged the man and went to take him into custody when they were bear sprayed by this guy," Doucette said.
Officers reached the area minutes later and arrested a 27-year-old man, who is facing several charges, including dangerous driving, robbery and assault.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Scott Hurst
.@CTVScottHurst has more on the crime spree that took place in downtown Vancouver today. https://t.co/OCw83B7ekl pic.twitter.com/9YrNjs2kZr
— CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) September 21, 2018