Vancouver police responded to a call about a man who allegedly punched a woman panhandling from her wheelchair earlier this week.
On Thursday, the woman was panhandling at Abbott and Water streets in Gastown. According to a VPD release, a man approached her and allegedly punched her in the face, then called her a hateful name before walking away.
The victim made her way to a nearby overdose prevention site, where she reported the assault to staff, who then called the police. Police located the suspect and he was arrested. Charges related to the assault and the verbal comments have been recommended.
The woman suffers from severe cerebral palsy.
