A Vancouver police officer was seriously injured in a random attack on the Downtown Eastside on Tuesday night.
The incident happened near Main and Hastings Streets just after 7 p.m.
Video obtained by Global News shows the assault.
A person can be seen lunging at the officer from behind, repeatedly slashing his leg.
“Officers were out patrolling on foot on the Downtown Eastside when they were unexpectedly approached,” Const. Tania Visintin with the Vancouver Police Department said.
“There was absolutely no interaction with the suspect prior. The officers weren’t on a call, they were just walking the beat.”
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Sgt James Hubert, the Vancouver Police Union acting president said the officer is doing well, considering.
“Obviously it was a very serious random assault, but they’re doing oka,y but again there’s going to be life-altering injuries for them.”
Soon after the assault, the suspect was located, tasered and taken into custody.
“The suspect fled the area on foot but was later located by our members minutes later near East Cordova and Main,” Visintin said.
Solaris Onatta Running Dey, 29, is now charged with aggravated assault of a police officer and assault of a peace officer with a weapon.
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Dey has an extensive criminal history, including a manslaughter conviction.
In 2018 he was found guilty of killing his 19-year-old girlfriend Aspen Pallot.
Her body was found inside a house in Richmond.
Recent charges include breaching probation orders, uttering threats and assaulting a peace officer, with that charge stemming from an incident in New Westminster in November, which involved someone resisting arrest and spitting on an officer.
“So it’s not just about our union members it’s about the public because somebody like this should not be out in society,” Hubert said.
Dey remains in custody pending his next court appearance, scheduled for March 19.
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