It was a "weekend of chaos" according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).
Among the incidents were three apparently unrelated incidents at Douglas Park in South Cambie involving teenagers. Two incidents happened on Friday night, Sept. 24, around 9:30 p.m., according to a press release from the VPD.
Police were called to the north end of the park after a young male was spotted pointing what looked like a gun at another youth, the VPD report. The suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was arrested by police and was found to be in possession of an imitation gun, along with a baton and a knife.
On the south side, at the same time, police responded after a 15-year-old was reportedly robbed at gunpoint by two men.
"The suspects left the area before police arrived, and the file is still under investigation," state police.
Later the same night, at 1:10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, in the same park, a 16-year-old girl was approached and groped by a stranger. Police are still looking for the unknown man.
Friday was busy in other parts of the city, as well. The Tim Hortons at the intersection of Davie and Hornby streets was the site of one incident around 4:30 a.m. when a man ordered a doughnut and then pulled a can of bear spray out and sprayed the employee. He was arrested and faces charges of assault with a weapon and mischief over $5,000.
In the evening, at 6:15 p.m. an 82-year-old Asian woman was walking to a bus stop at the intersection of East King Edward Avenue and Fraser Street when someone shoved her from behind.
"The 33-year-old suspect, who is not known to the victim, was arrested, and assault charges have been recommended to Crown counsel," state police.
The VPD Hate Crimes investigator is also looking into the incident.
Unprovoked assaults 'extremely concerning'
“These unprovoked assaults are extremely concerning,” says Cst. Tania Visintin. “No one deserves to be treated with such blatant disrespect as they are going about their lives.”
Saturday evening saw police arrest a man when he got into a fight on the road at East Hastings and Columbia streets. When police checked the 29-year-old for weapons they found a loaded handgun; several charges related to the gun have been suggested to prosecutors.
