A man charged in connection with the alleged bear-spraying of a Burnaby real estate agent and a local police officer has been released from jail into a drug-treatment program pending the resolution of his case.
On July 3, just after 1 p.m., police got a call from a neighbour in the 4100 block of Dawson Street saying a Realtor showing some homes in the area had been pepper-sprayed, according to information presented at a bail hearing in Vancouver provincial court Wednesday.
“(The real estate agent) had asked a male walking by if he was there for the showing, and the male pulled out apparent pepper spray and sprayed it in the direction of (the Realtor),” Crown prosecutor Amy Campbell said.
Police responded, and an officer approached a man that matched the description of the suspect, Campbell said.
“The male also then pepper-sprayed in the direction of (the officer) before fleeing the area on foot,” she said.
An extensive search ensued involving a police dog and a police helicopter.
A man – identified as 28-year-old Yang-Ying Nan Wang – was taken into custody with a dog bite, according to Campbell.
Wang has since been charged with assaulting a police officer with a weapon and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Campbell noted Wang had a criminal record involving “serious sentences” for robberies as well as numerous probation and bail breaches.
But Campbell agreed with defence lawyer Chantal Paquette that Wang should be released into a residential drug treatment program in the B.C. Interior.
Campbell noted Wang had not been diagnosed with any mental health issues but was addicted to heroin and experienced drug-induced psychoses that had resulted in “somewhat bizarre robberies.”
Both Campbell and Paquette called on Judge Jodie Werier to release Wang on the condition he attend the drug treatment program, have no contact with the police officer or Realtor; stay away from drugs and alcohol; and possess no weapons, including bear spray.
Werier agreed and wished Wang well.
“This is a great opportunity for you,” she said. “I hope you’re sincere in your desire to get some help because this likely is the only way you’re going to break this cycle that you’ve been in.”
The allegations against Wang have not been proven in court.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 28.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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