Man arrested after alleged bear-spray assaults and theft in Kitsilano

Vancouver Police say they arrested a man Thursday afternoon after a series of alleged theft and bear-spray assaults in Kitsilano.

At about 1 p.m., officers received a report that a man had stolen a can of bear spray from a vehicle near the 1900 block of Ogden Avenue in Kits Point. When the vehicle owner confronted him, the man allegedly deployed the spray and walked away.

About 10 minutes later, police say the same man approached a nearby work vehicle. After being confronted, he allegedly sprayed the second victim with bear spray, grabbed and threw the victim's cellphone, then left the area. Shortly afterward, he allegedly pointed bear spray at a woman and demanded a ride or access to her vehicle.

Officers located the man, who allegedly refused to follow directions and sprayed bear spray several times at responding officers before being taken into custody.

Jonathan Laberge-Labrecque, 42, is charged with one count of theft under $5,000, one count of robbery, two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon. He remains in custody pending a bail hearing.