A man was taken into police custody after reportedly bear spraying "a number of people" near English Bay on Wednesday.
Vancouver police responded to multiple calls about a man approaching people and deploying bear spray in the Denman Street and Beach Avenue area shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 , wrote VPD Sgt. Aaron Roed in an email.
The man allegedly sprayed several people with bear deterrent before he fled, only to be chased down and apprehended by a witness. The witness managed to hold him down until VPD officers arrived, according to police.
Police said the suspect, a 27-year-old man of no fixed address, did not appear to know any of the victims.
Last night a man approached multiple random people enjoying the evening at English Bay and pepper sprayed them for no reason. He was finally chased down by a passerby; we arrived minutes later and arrested the suspect. #thankyouforthehelp #InItTogether pic.twitter.com/P6Vy5sgKjJ
— Howard Chow (@DeputyChow) August 14, 2020
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services "decontaminated" two victims at the scene, while the suspect was arrested and transported to jail following the incident.
Police are recommending the man be charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, and one count of failure to comply with a probation order. Those recommendations have been submitted to the Crown for review.
