Vancouver Police says that a man arrested in a ventured vehicle in the Pacific Coliseum of the city on Thursday night had “religious delusions” and had been the subject of a 911 call that day from a biblical study group.
Sergeant Steve Addison said that on Friday that man was acting erratically in the church group, but he left before the officers found it.
Later, the man was arrested after a BMW sedan crashed into the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver during a Cirque du Soleil show around 8 PM PT on Thursday.
Addison said the suspect was in a clear mental health anguish.
“I was speaking and acting erratically, specifically with religious delusions, speaking of Satan, speaking of God, saying other things that made it very evident that he was experiencing a mental health crisis,” Addison said at a press conference on Friday.
“And he was clearly acting in a way that placed himself and the members of the public in immediate danger.”
Addison said that the 30 -year -old Vancouver man had no significant interactions with local authorities for criminal or mental health reasons before the incident.
Vancouver police arrested a 30 -year -old man after a vehicle was taken to the entrance of the Pacific Coliseum on Thursday night. Police say that a Soleil Cirque show was being carried out and it was a “miracle” that no one was injured.
No one was injured in the clash in the sand, and Addison called him a “miracle” given the number of people inside and outside at that time.
“The vehicle hit a vertical concrete column in the building, and that column is what prevented this vehicle from penetrating the sand,” said Addison.
“Although we do not know the specific speed at this point, I was traveling fast enough so that if I had not collided with that barrier, I would have gone to the sand and could have caused serious damage to people.”
Addison said the man was detained by virtue of the Mental Health Law, and the police do not identify it because they have not been criminally accused.
Police presence in weekend events
The incident occurred 40 days after a SUV crossed a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival, also in East Vancouver, killing 11 while hurting dozens of others.
The mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, said in a publication on social networks that he was “incredibly grateful that no one was injured.”
“The security of all those who attend events in our city is our main priority, and we will continue working to keep Vancouver safe,” Sim said.
Addison said there was no evidence that the last haunter was linked to terrorism or copied the attack of the Lapu-Lapu festival, but the police understood that the public can be afraid given similarities between the two incidents.
He said it was why the police were guaranteeing the security at the events this weekend, including the opener of the BC Lions season on Saturday and the Italian day festival in Commercial Drive, deploying more than 300 additional officers and vehicle barriers.
The barriers that settled in Commercial Drive were seen on Friday ahead of the Italian Cultural Festival.
“We completely understand that as soon as this vehicle hit the Colosseum last night, the first thing that would be in the minds of the people was a flashback for what happened 40 days before at the Filipino Filipino Filipino Festival Lapu-Lapu,” said Addison.
“That is the natural reaction. If I have a message for people, it is please know that we are doing everything we can in our possession, working with our partners, to mitigate the risks, so that this summer is as sure as possible.”
He said that people in Vancouver should be attentive to events, and anything suspicious must be informed immediately.
“We are going to have many police officers,” said Addison. “They will be very visible. We are going to have road closures to prevent vehicles from entering the closed street, because Commercial Drive will close.
“If you see something that seems out of place, if you see something that makes you feel insecure, if you see something suspicious, just call us. We will respond. We will prefer that you do it.”
