Vancouver police are looking for a man who skipped the court day of July 12, after being released from detention after being charged with assault, mischief, and obstruction by police officers in downtown Vancouver on July 9. Police say the suspect is now being sought across the BC.
#VPDNews: Vancouver police are looking for additional witnesses after their mother and toddler were beaten and killed by a suspect who ran through Chinatown earlier this month.
Media Release: https://t.co/0m1eIZ5lyL pic.twitter.com/yQIlb3Cmnx
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) July 20, 2022
Vancouver Police (VPD) arrested suspect Shakwan David Kelly (27) on July 9 after being reported that a shirtless man was causing confusion in the northeastern part of Vancouver near Chinatown. did. Witnesses claimed that the man was walking in the traffic and kicking a car, and that he collided so hard that he dented it, VPD said. news release..
According to police, when the VPD arrived at the scene, the man tried to escape through Chinatown. While running on East Pender Street, he allegedly hit a woman and a child on the sidewalk and slammed them into the ground. Police included footage of a security camera that captured the incident in the report.
As a result of the suspect’s attack, the woman hit her head against the pavement and the toddler suffered multiple abrasions, police Say..
Vancouver police arrested Kelly two blocks away on Main Street a few minutes later. They detained him and charged him with assault, mischief, and obstruction of justice.
VPD released Kelly on the same day, but he was scheduled to appear in court on July 12, just three days later. However, Kelly did not attend his hearing, causing a state-wide investigation and fleeing him from justice.
police Witnesses of the assault are now seeking to come forward and testify. VPD spokesperson sergeant Steve Addison said police had heard from some witnesses but wanted more.
“This assault occurred in a busy neighborhood and was witnessed by about 12 people,” Addison said. release.. “We talked to some witnesses, but we’re still collecting evidence, and we want to hear from others who have seen or heard what happened.”
Police are asking witnesses to call 604-717-4021 in their report.
VPD’s search for Kelly takes place a few days after Sergeant Addison talks about an increase in random assaults in Vancouver. When asked if he had seen such a high level of crime while at VPD, Addison said he “has never seen it this way.”
“I’ve been a police officer for a while and haven’t seen it this way,” he said. Said Global news. “There are many community concerns out there, and we hear and share those concerns.”
Addison also said VPD is working to understand the rising crime rate in the city.
“We believe that solving this epidemic is not just a police solution … Many of these incidents we see are underlying social issues, underlying mental health issues, And because it involves repetitive criminals, “he said.
VPD did not respond in press time to the Epoch Times request for more information on Kelly’s state-wide search.
follow
Peter Wilson is a reporter based in Ontario, Canada.