Suspect charged after woman brazenly followed while walking in Vancouver

VANCOUVER – Police say a criminal charge has been laid in connection with a case involving a man who followed a woman for many blocks as she walked through downtown Vancouver.

Const. Tania Visintin says police began investigating after the woman posted video to social media last month showing a man persistently following, sometimes very closely.

The woman reported the unknown man trailed her for about 40 minutes before she asked for help from people at a nearby park and one of them chased the man off.

Visintin says the report generated significant attention, causing anxiety in the community, and police are pleased charges have been laid.

A 33-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with one count of criminal harassment related to the woman’s complaint and he will return to court on April 19.

Visintin says the man faces five other charges linked to separate offences that allegedly occurred between March 13 and 19 in Vancouver and range from criminal harassment to mischief, assault, uttering threats and break-and-enter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2021.