Two arrests have been made in connection with a brutal tire-iron attack on a Vancouver man.
The assault took place late Monday night near East Hastings St. A woman hit the 43-year-old victim in the face with a tire iron. A second assailant hit and kicked the victim as the woman continued her attack.
Police in the area heard the victim's screams and stopped the assault, arresting both assailants.
Vancouver police noted that the victim did not know the two assailants. "This assault was sudden and unprovoked," said Const. Lindsey Houghton.
Tasha Laureen Carpenter, 31, of Surrey and 24-year-old Brandon Alexander Paul of Vancouver were charged with one count of assault with a weapon and one count of assault causing bodily harm. Both Carpenter and Paul are known to police.
The victim suffered several cuts to the face and head and lost two teeth in the assault. He was recovering in hospital Tuesday.
The tire iron attack is the second violent assault in recent days. On Sunday, a Surrey man was violently assaulted while participating in the Vancouver Sun Run.
Houghton said the number of violent assaults in Vancouver is up this year. Police are responding to the increase by adding officers to foot patrols, he said.
"We have enhanced beat teams since last year," said Houghton. "We have two more full squads of beat officers in the Downtown Eastside. We're working very hard, and we hope that those numbers turn around."
