Vancouver Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a serious assault near the PNE in mid-July. Police have released video of the altercation and a composite drawing of the suspect.
Just before 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, two men left a concert at the PNE Amphitheatre and were walking on the north sidewalk of East Hastings Street near Windermere Street, when they briefly stopped to check on the well-being of a young woman who appeared intoxicated. The woman said she was fine, so the two men continued walking. Seconds later, they were confronted by an agitated man who had been walking behind the woman.
The man allegedly ran toward the men and deliberately pushed one of them, a 37-year-old Surrey man, into traffic on East Hastings. The victim was struck and driven over by a white SUV that was travelling west on East Hastings. Unsure of what had happened, the driver pulled over and waited for police.
Attempts were made by witnesses to hold the suspect for police, but he and the female, believed to be his friend, ran away prior to the police arriving within minutes.
The victim is still recovering from serious, but what is now considered, non-life-threatening injuries.
“We have obtained dash-cam video from the SUV involved in the collision,” says VPD Constable Jason Doucette. “We are asking the suspect to turn himself in, but if he doesn’t, we are confident that someone will come forward to identity him and his friend.”
The suspect is described as a Caucasian man in his mid-20s, 6’0” to 6’2” tall, with a heavy athletic build. He has short dark hair, dark stubble on his face, and was wearing a black crew-neck t-shirt and dark shorts.
The woman is described as Asian, 20 to 25-years-old, 5’2” to 5’4” tall, with a slim build. She has medium length black hair and was wearing a white tank-top or a sun dress.
Police are asking anyone with information about the suspect or his female friend, or who may have witnessed the assault and has not spoken with police, to call detectives at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
