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Jonathan Laberge-Labrecque, 42, faces charges including assault with a weapon and assaulting peace officers after a series of bear spray incidents in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood on Thursday.
A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged after a series of bear spray attacks in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood, Vancouver police say. Jonathan Laberge-Labrecque faces two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon.
He also faces one count each of theft under $5,000 and robbery. He remains in custody pending a bail hearing. Police say the incidents began around 1 p.m. on Thursday. Officers received a report of a man stealing a can of bear spray from a vehicle near the 1900 block of Ogden Street.
Suspect Allegedly Bear Spray Victims
When the vehicle's owner confronted him, the man allegedly deployed the bear spray and walked away. About 10 minutes later, police say the man approached a second victim. He allegedly bear-sprayed the person, grabbed their phone and threw it before leaving the area. The man then approached a woman, pointed the bear spray at her and demanded a ride or access to her car.
According to a news release issued Friday, officers arrived in the area and located the man. Police say he refused to comply with their directions. He allegedly sprayed bear spray multiple times at the responding officers before he was taken into custody. The arrest followed the string of confrontations that began with the theft of the bear spray can earlier in the afternoon.
The Vancouver Police Department issued the update on Friday, a day after the incidents took place in the Kitsilano neighbourhood. No injuries to the victims or officers were reported in the police account. Police have not said whether the suspect knew any of the people involved. The investigation into the string of attacks is ongoing.
Charges Against Laberge Labrecque Pending
The charges against Laberge-Labrecque have not been proven in court. He is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing. Police are asking anyone with information about the incidents to contact them. Bear spray is a type of aerosol spray containing capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers.
It is designed as a defensive tool against bears but has been used in urban assaults. Incidents involving bear spray have been reported in several Canadian cities in recent years.
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CTVToronto:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Vancouver Kitsilano Bear Spray Vancouver Police Department Jonathan Laberge-Labrecque Assault Charges Ogden Street Vancouver Bear Spray Attack Kitsilano Crime Vancouver Police
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