Law enforcement in the city was stretched thin this weekend, according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).
Along with the continued investigation of a violent sexual assault on a 76-year-old woman last week VPD officers also were called to multiple stabbings and shootings.
“Our front-line officers and specially-trained detectives have been going full tilt since Friday in an effort to stem the violence and make headway on these cases,” says Sgt. Steve Addison in a press release. “Dozens of police officers have been assigned to these investigations. We’re doing everything we can to solve them and to prevent more violence.”
The violence he's referring to includes an incident the evening of Friday, Sept. 10 when a 26-year-old man was stabbed near Pigeon Park. It was the second day in a row he'd been stabbed, and he'd only been out of the hospital a few hours. He's expected to live despite a lacerated kidney and internal bleeding.
Later that day at the Main and East Cordova police station a woman showed up with stab wounds in her abdomen, hip and rear around 10 p.m. After patching her up police followed a trail of blood from the woman. It took them more than a block away. Police believe the woman was lured by a man and woman into a lane where she was assaulted.
Another incident occurred in the area when police were called to a Downtown Eastside social housing complex at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12. They found a 21-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man with stab wounds on the sidewalk. The woman had been stabbed in the chest, while the man had been stabbed in the arm.
Inside the building they found the crime scene, but were interrupted when a gunshot rang out from the fourth floor.
"VPD’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was called in to assist, and arrested the shooting suspect after he allegedly exited the room while holding a sharp object," states the VPD in the release.
The ERT was called again later Sunday morning after shots were reported at a highrise at Burrard and Georgia streets.
"Investigators zeroed in on an apartment linked to a known gang member and arrested three people, including the alleged shooter. A 23-year-old man was taken to jail and faces charges," states the VPD.
Everyone who was stabbed in the above incidents is expected to live, police say.
“Although our officers were stretched thin this weekend, we still encourage anyone who sees a crime or needs police assistance to call us right away,” adds Sergeant Addison. “If there’s crime happening in your neighbourhood or you feel unsafe, we need to know about it so we can help.”
