VANCOUVER -- A man has been charged about a month after a widely-shared video was posted to social media showing what the poster described as a stalking incident.
Police said 33-year-old Mohammed Majidpour, of no fixed address, has been charged with one count of criminal harassment in connection to the incident that occurred in Vancouver on March 17.
He's also been charged in several separate incidents that police allege occurred the same week.
“(We’re) hoping this brings a lot of peace to the community,” said Vancouver police Const. Tania Visintin. “Because I know it created a lot of uproar as it should, a lot of anxiety.”
Police say their investigation began when video was posted to social media in March of a woman being followed by a man she didn't know. She said she was followed for about 40 minutes.
The video garnered "significant attention" on social media, and police began a search for the man involved.
As the investigation continued, further charges were recommended by police, then approved by Crown counsel.
The woman who recorded the video, Jamie Coutts, told CTV News on Thursday she was thankful for the arrest, but also “praying that (police) have the right guy.”
“Any person that has a gut feeling that something isn’t right, we always suggest that you call 911,” Visintin said.
“If you’re able to take a video or a picture of a person, safely (while you call 911, then do it),” added Coutts.
Majidpour, who remains in custody, faces a second count of criminal harassment for an incident on March 13 near Dunsmuir and Granville streets.
He's also been charged with one count of mischief in an incident reported the next day at a Burrard Street hotel, and one count of break-and-enter at a hotel on March 16. Police did not say whether it was at the same hotel, or another located on Burrard.
Majidpour has also been charged with one count of assault with a weapon in an incident reported on March 19 near Bute and Robson streets, and one count of uttering threats in an incident in the same area.
CTV News found a man with the same name and birth year as the suspect, who has a long list of criminal convictions in Metro Vancouver dating back to 2016, including assault, uttering threats, theft of $5,000 or under, possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes, assault with a weapon, possession of stolen property under $5,000, and breach of probation.
Visintin couldn’t say whether the suspect was the same person, but indicated Majidpour had a history with police.
Majidpour is due to appear on the charges in Vancouver Provincial Court next week.
None of the charges have been proven in court.
