Man arrested after alleged assault, robbery and possible hate-motivated incident in Vancouver

A 44-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested following an investigation into an alleged assault, robbery and possible hate-motivated incident that occurred near Main Street and East 2nd Avenue, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Police said the incidents began at about 9 a.m. on Aug. 4 outside a fast-food restaurant, where the man was allegedly panhandling before security staff asked him to leave the property. According to a Vancouver Police Department news release, the suspect allegedly threw a cup, pushed a security guard, made racist remarks targeting the guard's ethnicity and religion, struck the guard and removed the guard's turban before leaving the area.

A short time later, about one block away, the same suspect allegedly approached another person, demanded money while making threats, and assaulted the victim after receiving cash. Police said the victim handed over additional money before escaping and contacting officers.

Investigators said officers located the suspect at a nearby residence and arrested him without incident. He was later released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court at a future date. Vancouver police are recommending charges of assault and robbery, while patrol officers and the department's Hate Crime Unit continue to investigate whether the first incident meets the threshold for a hate crime.