Man arrested after paramedic assaulted in Downtown Eastside

A man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a paramedic in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday morning. The Vancouver Police Department says the incident happened just after 11:20 a.m.

The paramedic was assisting a patient near West Hastings and Abbott streets when a man approached and asked for water. While the paramedic was still tending to the patient, the man allegedly struck the paramedic on the head and then fled the area.

The paramedic suffered minor injuries.

Vancouver Police officers responded and located the suspect one block away, where he was arrested. Assault charges are being recommended against the 27-year-old man. Recommended charges are not the same as charges being laid, so the next steps will depend on how the case moves forward.

For people who live, work or walk through the Downtown Eastside, this is a reminder that paramedics often work in busy public spaces, sometimes while helping someone who is unwell. The police report describes a stranger approaching during a medical call, which is worth knowing if you are nearby when emergency crews are on scene.

Source: Vancouver Police