Metro Vancouver police have recommended multiple charges against a man accused of attacking and biting a group of girls on the SkyTrain last week. Connie Tobias, whose niece was one of the victims, told CKNW’s The Jas Johal Show that the trio were on the train at the Main Street-Science World station around midnight when a strange man started taking pictures of them. Story continues below ad The girls asked him to stop, and when he didn’t, one of them took our phone to take a picture of him.
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“And it broke out,” he said. Transit police said the man punched one of the girls in the face before putting a second girl in a headlock and kicking her. 2:22 Homeless man steps in to help female tourist attacked in Vancouver’s West End Homeless man steps in to help female tourist attacked in Vancouver’s West End – August 2, 2022 When the third girl tried to free her friend, the man allegedly bit her arm, police said. Trending Stories
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“So the thumb hadn’t been bitten – at first they thought it was because there was a lot of blood and later they found out it was intact, the tip of the thumb was what needed surgery and the nail was bitten off … and just a few broken bones,” he said Tobias for the bite injury. Story continues below ad
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“They’re traumatized, obviously, and they’re no longer using public transport.” Police said another bystander intervened in the fight and was allegedly bitten on the hand, while another passenger raised the security alarm on the train. The suspect got off at Joyce station and fled, but police were able to track him down nearby and arrest him. 1:48 Metro Vancouver Transit Police Search for Suspect in Unprovoked Attack Metro Vancouver Transit Police Search for Suspect in Unprovoked Attack – July 21, 2022 Along with the horrific injury to the girl’s thumb, police said the other victims suffered bruising and swelling. Tobias said her niece has been having trouble sleeping since the attack and has developed a fear of the dark. Story continues below ad She and the other girls rely on family members and ride-sharing apps to get around because they no longer feel safe on the transit system.
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“I don’t know if we can point the finger directly at an individual or a community or a department — but I mean, the police can only do so much,” he said. “Even if this person were to be removed, where are they going to put him? I don’t know if he belongs in a prison or if he belongs in a mental institution, and do we have the capacity and the ability to deal with the large number of people like this on the street?’ Transit police said the suspect, a 33-year-old New Westminster man who was not known to police, was released on conditions and is due back in court on Sept. 26. © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
