Editor's note: V.I.A. has confirmed that charges against Anthony King were stayed on August 22, 2022.
Following an altercation on a Vancouver beach last weekend, the Vancouver Police Department is looking for two men who interfered and assaulted officers while they attempted to make an arrest.
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on June 18 after VPD’s beach patrol officers were called to investigate a large fight and a possible assault involving 10 people. The officers were trying to diffuse the situation and disperse the crowd when one of the people involved began causing a disturbance and refusing to leave according to a VPD release. When the officers handcuffed the 20-year-old North Vancouver resident, dozens of beachgoers surrounded them and made the situation more volatile.
Constable Tania Visintin, the VPD’s media relations officer, said some in the crowd acted worse than others.
“We’ve reviewed video clips posted online and have identified two agitators who incited the crowd, assaulted the police officers, and obstructed them as they were doing their jobs,” Visintin said. “We need help to identify these people and are asking anyone who knows them to call us.”
The first suspect is a white man who appears to be in his early 20s. Video posted online shows this man refusing commands to step back, rushing at the officers, and physically assaulting them while they were struggling to control the suspect.
#VPDNews: Vancouver Police are asking for the public’s help to identify two men who allegedly obstructed and assaulted VPD officers during an altercation last Friday night at English Bay. https://t.co/XwpwSMBpmK pic.twitter.com/x0kk8Ph8ts
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) June 25, 2021
The second person VPD hopes to identify is a dark-skinned man in his 20s. Video posted to social media shows this man shoving a police officer as she attempted to escort the suspect through the crowd.
Three VPD officers were injured during the incident, and one was taken to hospital.
Anyone who can identify the two suspects is asked to call investigators at 604-717-2541, or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
