Victim sought after suspect caught on camera in Vancouver stranger attack involving 'large stick'
A suspect has been identified in connection to a random attack on a stranger in Vancouver's downtown core.
Video posted to YouTube showed a man aimlessly hitting random objects with what police described as a "large stick" as he walked down Burrard Street. He can then be seen approaching a shopper, pointing the rod at the person's face and chasing them away.
The video was posted online earlier this month.
In an update in the case Wednesday, the Vancouver Police Department said a suspect has since been identified.
Police said Wednesday he was found "later" by officers responding to another call, this time at a social housing complex near Cambie and Dunsmuir streets.
The VPD alleges the man told the officers he had a gun and tried to flee, but that he was arrested before getting away.
The 26-year-old has not yet been charged, so he has not been publicly identified, but police said he is a resident of the city's West End was already wanted province-wide over something else.
Now, they're trying to find the victim in the Nov. 1 incident.
“This frightening incident was caught on tape, but the victim did not report the encounter to Vancouver Police,” Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement. “We’d like to hear from this person, or anyone else who has information, so we can better understand what happened.”
Police said the incident occurred on Burrard at Drake Street at around 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 1.
Visintin called the behaviour "very concerning," and a risk to public safety.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's St. John Alexander
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.