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(Video) 5 people attacked with needle at Burnaby mall: police

A 32-year-old man faces multiple charges of assault with a weapon after he allegedly jabbed several people with a capped hypodermic needle at Metrotown mall in Burnaby Friday. Police responded to the mall just after 9 p.m.
NEEDLE ARREST
A suspect lays on the floor at Metrotown mall last Friday as Burnaby RCMP get ready to arrest him. SCREENSHOT

A 32-year-old man faces multiple charges of assault with a weapon after he allegedly jabbed several people with a capped hypodermic needle at Metrotown mall in Burnaby Friday.

Police responded to the mall just after 9 p.m. and quickly located and arrested the suspect, according to Burnaby RCMP.

 

“The weapon believed to have been used in this incident was a hypodermic needle; however, no one has yet been located with injuries consistent with being stabbed by a needle,” Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj said in an emailed statement. “It is believed that this is due to the fact that there was a cap on the needle at the time of the alleged assaults taking place.”

A video of the arrest posted on social media shows a Mountie with his weapon drawn ordering a man in shorts and a white hoodie to the ground as shoppers walk by in the background.

Another officer then comes in and cuffs the suspect.

“Because we don’t know the situation, he has a needle, we don’t know what other kind of weapons he might have, we don’t know if he has associates with him – that would be why he pulled out his firearm,” Kalanj said of the officer. “The people around are kind of shocked when they see that because they don’t see that kind of thing every day, but it’s just a necessary tool that we have to use to keep everyone safe.”

Police located three alleged victims and interviewed them at the scene.

They are now looking for two others who were captured on security video but who have not yet spoken to police.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999.