Vancouver youth, 17, charged after man stabbed recovering stolen bike on Commercial Drive

Vancouver police announced on November 5 that a 17-year-old youth has been charged with robbery and assault with a weapon after allegedly stealing a bicycle and stabbing its owner on Commercial Drive. The victim was stabbed in the abdomen and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

What happened

The incident happened at about 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. According to the Vancouver Police Department, the victim was with a friend and his bicycle was resting nearby when a youth grabbed it and rode away. The man chased after him to try to recover the bike and was stabbed in the abdomen. Police were called shortly afterwards and located a suspect matching the description several blocks away, still allegedly in possession of the stolen bicycle.

Charges and court process

The 17-year-old has been charged with one count of robbery and one count of assault with a weapon. Under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act, a young person charged with an offence cannot be identified. Police have not released the names of the suspect or the victim. The charges have not been proven in court, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Commercial Drive, known locally as The Drive, is the main commercial street of the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood, busy with shops and cafes well into the evening. (Photo is a file image of Commercial Drive in Vancouver. Source: Blu Realty.)