A 33-year-old man is in custody and faces multiple charges in connection to a stalking incident and several other criminal acts that took place around the same time.
Vancouver Police say they have charged Mohammed Majidpour of no fixed address with one count of criminal harassment in relation to a March 17 incident in which a woman recorded a man following her in close proximity while she travelled several blocks on foot through the city.
The woman took to Instagram to share videos of the man who was following closely behind her and wrote out her account of what took place.
"This guy has literally been following me in circles for 40 minutes and I'm reporting it."
The victim indicates she went on a "short trip to the store to pick up a few things" and felt someone closely following her on her way home. She adds that she stepped off the sidewalk to let the man pass, but he merely stopped and stared at her. When she told him he was walking too close, she writes that he "said nothing."
After making several loops around the block to try and get him to stop, she turned her camera on "selfie mode" to record the encounter. She even crosses the street before the light turns red and rushes across the street to try to lose him. After he continues to follow her, she makes her way to a skate park with numerous people. She sits down with people she doesn't know, but the man continues to watch.
"Hey do you mind if I sit with you guys?" she asks some strangers she meets. "This guy has literally been following me in circles for 40 minutes and I'm reporting it."
Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison confirmed the woman filed a report with the VPD, which he says was the right thing to do; other women have indicated on social media they believe the same man followed them in a similar manner.
In the following days, the VPD announced they had identified the suspect and that he was in custody.
Charges were approved by BC Prosecution Service on Wednesday.
“This case generated significant attention on social media and in the mainstream news after a video was posted online last month,” says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD in a media release issued April 15. “We understand the incident caused anxiety in the community, and we’re pleased with the outcome of the investigation.”
Suspect tied to other crimes and has been charged
As a result of the VPD investigation, however, Crown counsel has approved additional charges against Majidpour for other, separate incidents. Those charges are as follows:
- One count of criminal harassment in connection to an incident that occurred March 13 near Dunsmuir and Granville Street
- One count of mischief in connection to an incident that occurred March 14 at a hotel on Burrard Street
- One count of break and enter in connection to an incident that occurred March 16 at a hotel on Burrard Street
- One count of assault with a weapon in connection to an incident that occurred March 19 near Bute and Robson Street
- One count of uttering threats in connection to an incident that occurred March 19 near Bute and Robson Street
With files from Elana Shepert
