Overview
- On Sunday, June 28 a woman walking at Kits Beach was struck in the head with a length of wood described by witnesses as the size of a baseball bat and was taken to hospital and is expected to recover.
- Vancouver police arrested 48-year-old Carlos Caldera Duarte near the Burrard Street Bridge and Crown Counsel approved one count of assault with a weapon against him.
- Duarte was held for less than 48 hours and a judge released him on court-imposed conditions that include staying away from Kits Beach and reporting to forensic psychiatric services.
- Police and the victim's partner expressed frustration at the release and social media users criticized the decision while officials noted that pre-trial custody is decided by the BC Prosecution Service and the courts, not the VPD.
- The case has intensified public concern about random street attacks in Vancouver as a separate suspect, Dylan Brandon Gaita, remains in custody after being linked to multiple prior stranger incidents.