Two officers were on patrol in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Tuesday when a man attacked them with an ‘edged weapon.’
A Vancouver police officer was sent to hospital with serious injuries Tuesday night after a random attack in the city’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.
Police say two officers were on patrol at about 7 p.m. when a man slashed one of the officers several times in the leg with an edged weapon. The officer was taken to hospital. He has since been released and is recovering at home.
“This is another example of the unpredictable nature of police work and the dangers VPD officers face every day while working to keep Vancouver safe,” said Const. Tania Visintin, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver police.
Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer posted about the attack on social media, saying that “random senseless violence is intolerable and certain people need to be incarcerated.”
The suspect fled on foot but was found and arrested minutes later near East Cordova and Main streets, said Visintin.
Solaris Onatta Running Dey, 29, has been charged with aggravated assault of a police officer and assault of a peace officer with a weapon.
Dey remains in custody until his next court appearance.
With files from Kim Bolan and Dan Fumano