City of Vancouver crews began removing homeless encampment tents along Hastings Street on Tuesday.
However, by mid-afternoon, the scene had become chaotic.
Global News cameras captured a large crowd facing off with Vancouver police near the corner of Hastings Street and Main Street.
Some punches were thrown and projectiles were aimed at officers.
Vancouver police said several officers were assaulted during the arrest of a man causing a disturbance at the Carnegie Centre.
The officers were already nearby due to the City of Vancouver staff moving in to remove tents and structures between Gore Avenue and Abbott Street.
Officers were called by Carnegie Centre staff just before 3 p.m., who reported a man throwing computers and behaving erratically. As officers were taking him into custody, the man resisted arrest and fought with the police. A large crowd gathered and became hostile and combative with the officers, police added.
Several police officers were assaulted and multiple arrests were made, police said.
City of Vancouver staff started attempting to move tents and residents on Tuesday morning in the Downtown Eastside.
This is considered the highest-risk area and then work will continue over the coming weeks, the city said in a statement.
Staff started by having conversations with those living on the sidewalk and asking them to voluntarily pack up and move.
Staff will be providing temporary storage to secure people’s personal belongings, the city said.
The original fire order to remove the tents came from Vancouver Fire Rescue Chief Karen Fry on July 25.
“We recognize that this work will have an emotional impact on the community and everyone involved,” the City of Vancouver said. “City staff will be seeking to conduct the work with thoughtfulness and care of the residents and their circumstances.”
Vancouver Fire Rescue information officer, Matthew Trudeau, said Tuesday morning that while they don’t expect necessarily violence to occur while they’re at the scene, crews will be there for support and make sure the process is as smooth as possible.
The City of Vancouver’s street and traffic bylaw prohibits structures on sidewalks and staff said they have been working with the community and non-profit organizations on a thoughtful, phased approach for structure removal to adhere to the fire order issued in July.
In a statement to Global News, however, BC Housing said “We have been clear with the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Fire Rescue Services that, on short notice, we do not have access to large numbers of new spaces in Vancouver to accommodate the timing of the emergency order.”
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