Vancouver Police arrest suspect after alleged assault on senior

Vancouver Police say they have arrested a man after an alleged assault on a 76-year-old man in downtown Vancouver on the morning of September 9.

Officers were called shortly after 11 a.m. to reports of an aggressive panhandler targeting the man in the 1600-block of Davie Street. Police say the suspect approached the victim on a coffee shop patio, allegedly produced a knife, grabbed his backpack and fled on foot.

A nearby witness called 911 immediately and stayed on the line with dispatchers, providing real-time updates on the suspect's movements. Patrol officers located and arrested the man a short time later without further incident, then took him to Vancouver Jail.

Joshua Edward Adams, 36, has been charged with assault with a weapon and theft under $5,000. Constable Darren Wong thanked the bystander, saying their detailed descriptions enabled officers to quickly locate and take the suspect into custody.