The suspect in a random downtown stabbing on Wednesday afternoon was involved in a series of incidents before being arrested, Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer said at a press conference on Thursday.
“What we are learning is concerning,” he said.
The attack happened just before noon in the area of Smithe and Beatty streets.
A man was reportedly chasing multiple people while armed with a knife.
A 61-year-old man was stabbed and seriously injured, Palmer said. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
“As officers tended to the victim, other officers flooded the area, searched for and located the suspect and took him into custody,” he added.
Officers used a Taser to take the suspect down.
“I just want to reiterate that the victim and the suspect in this case are total strangers, they have no prior relationship with one another and that my thoughts are with the victim and his family,” Palmer added.
The suspect, a 46-year-old man, is known to police and appears to have mental health challenges, Palmer said.
He has previously spent time in Surrey and Delta after returning from Thailand in 2022 where he spent time in custody for multiple offences including breaking into a bank, causing damage inside and overstaying his tourist visa, Palmer explained.
“Six days ago, on March 15, the suspect was released from Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, on probation, after serving a jail sentence for uttering threats against his own family members and also against prominent federal politicians,” he said.
He then failed to report to his probation officer on Wednesday morning in Surrey and was subsequently involved in a number of incidents in Vancouver.
“We now believe the same man is responsible for five separate violent and unprovoked incidents that unfolded in downtown Vancouver throughout the morning yesterday,” Palmer said.
At 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, a man was attacked near Seymour and West Cordova streets.
Minutes later, a 911 call came in with a report that a man had entered a coffee shop near Harbour Centre. Palmer said there was a disturbance where a window was broken and customers feared for their safety.
The third incident happened at about 11:25 a.m. when a man was walking near Main and Prior streets when a man lunged at him with a knife and was yelling at him.
The victim managed to run away from the attacker, Palmer added.
The suspect was then involved in the random stabbing of the 61-year-old victim where he was taken into custody.
“Shortly after he was arrested, we learned that the suspect was involved in an additional assault, which is still under investigation,” Palmer said.
Kent Meades, 46, has now been charged with assault with a weapon, assault uttering threats and more charges are expected, Palmer added.
Meades remains in custody.