Vancouver police (VPD) have now released dash cam video from an incident that took place near the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds (PNE) in mid-July.
They are hoping the release of the video will help them identify a suspect in a serious assault as the video appears to show a man pushing another man into traffic on East Hastings Street.
Just before 10:30 p.m. on July 15, two men were leaving a concert at the PNE Amphitheatre and were walking on the north sidewalk of Hastings Street, near Windermere Street, when they stopped briefly to check on the well-being of a young woman who appeared to be intoxicated.
The woman said she was OK so the two men continued walking.
Police say, seconds later, they were confronted by an “agitated man” who had been walking behind the woman. The man then allegedly ran toward the men and deliberately pushed one of them into traffic. The victim was struck by a white SUV that was travelling west on East Hastings.
WATCH: VPD investigating after dash cam video shows man being pushed into traffic near PNE
The driver, unsure of what happened, pulled over and waited for police. VPD says in no way was the driver at fault.
“We have obtained dash cam video from the SUV involved in the collision,” VPD Const. Jason Doucette said in a release. “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.
WATCH: Vancouver police release new details about a dangerous assault that happened near the PNE
“He had no idea what had occurred. He felt the impact, pulled over immediately and tried to render some first aid immediately.”
Police said witnesses attempted to hold the suspect for police, but he and the woman, believed to be his friend, ran away prior to officers arriving.
The victim, a 37-year-old man from Surrey, is still recovering from what is considered non-life-threatening injuries.
“They will be life-changing,” says Doucette. “He continues to recover.”
“There was nothing wrong with what these two men did. They stopped to check on the well-being of another person. Once they figured out that person was not in need of assistance, they kept going, and for whatever reason, this man, the suspect, acted out and he violently pushed them and it led to some serious injuries.”
The suspect is described as a Caucasian man in his mid-20s, six feet to six-feet-two, 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, five-feet-two to five-feet-four 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.
Comments