'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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.