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Mother breastfeeding in car attacked by stranger, Vancouver police say

Click to play video: 'Charges laid in Vancouver attack on nursing mother'
Charges laid in Vancouver attack on nursing mother
WATCH: A mother breastfeeding her baby was assaulted while sitting in a parked SUV on Vancouver's Commercial Drive. As Catherine Urquhart reports, the suspect was quickly apprehended thanks to quick-thinking bystanders. – May 10, 2024

A disturbing incident happened in Vancouver on Thursday where police said a mother was breastfeeding her baby in an SUV when they were attacked by a stranger.

Vancouver police said a mother, her husband, their baby boy and another family member were sitting in a vehicle on Commercial Drive, near East 2nd Street, when a stranger opened a door and got into the vehicle around 2:15 p.m.

The stranger tried to grab the mother and the infant in the back seat, according to Sgt. Steve Addison.

“The mother, a woman in her 30s from Vancouver, screamed, held onto the baby, and attempted to fight off the (person),” Addison said.

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Bystanders and witnesses intervened and held the suspect until officers arrived and arrested them.

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Suspicious fire at South Surrey restaurant

A video submitted to Global News shows bystanders gathered outside of the vehicle, wrestling with the shirtless suspect.

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A witness also captured a video of a shirtless, shoeless person being escorted into the back of a police van.

Later Friday morning, Global News learned 26-year-old Nathaniel Francis Beekmeyer was charged with assault.

They remain in custody awaiting their next court appearance on May 15.

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Man in custody for allegedly threatening people with hammer outside BC Cancer building

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