'Dirty' needle used to stab woman in another Vancouver stranger attack: police
A suspect has been identified following the stabbing of a stranger with a needle, Vancouver police say.
It was reported that the victim was stabbed with a hypodermic needle by someone she did not know while leaving a coffee shop in the city's Chinatown area.
The 23-year-old woman was stabbed near Abbott and East Pender streets Wednesday afternoon, police said in a news release the next day.
Officers said they believe the woman may have been followed out of the café, then confronted by the suspect "who then stabbed her (in the leg) with the dirty needle," Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison said Thursday of the incident in Chinatown.
"All signs point to this being a random and unprovoked assault on a victim who did nothing wrong."
The victim called police immediately. Because officers were alerted quickly, Addison said, they were able to arrest a suspect, a 35-year-old woman who is known to police. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance.
“We’re concerned for the victim’s health and safety and because we don’t know what was in that needle and what long term health impacts could result from this,” said Addison.
In a statement to CTV News, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said he’s concerned by the stabbing, but pointed to Vancouver Police Department statistics that show crime on a whole is trending downward.
“Every category of crime is down or holding steady compared to before the pandemic,” said Stewart.
However, the VPD said random attacks appear to be on the rise.
“We’re seeing more than four incidents a day where people are being assaulted by people they don’t know,” Addison said.
Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry said this latest random attack speaks to a mental health crisis the city and its police force cannot tackle alone. He believes the federal government’s newly created mental health and addictions ministry needs to step in and help.
“We just can’t keep up. We just don’t have the resources to deal with this magnitude of issues, so we need more complex care solutions,” said Fry. “We’re grateful for the province stepping in with housing, but we need those wraparound supports as well. For a complete picture, and not just housing people who are having a tough time functioning in society.”
She has not been identified as no charges have been approved at this time. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect has been released from police custody on a promise to appear in court at a later date.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.