North Vancouver RCMP are seeking criminal charges after a naked man allegedly assaulted a jogger on the Spirit Trail Thursday.
“Somebody reported encountering a naked male with an alleged knife on the footbridge leading to the (Northshore) Automall. They had a confrontation.” said Cpl. Richard De Jong. “There were no major injuries. A minor assault occurred.”
Police did not find a knife at the scene when they arrived. The suspect was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital. Police have recommended an assault charge to Crown counsel.
The suspect had apparently been swimming naked in the creek beforehand. That’s something that should be called in to police, De Jong said.
“Swimming naked this time of year anywhere is a bit strange,” he said. “That’s not the norm, nor should it be.”
MacKay Creek is known for housing homeless camps, which the RCMP frequently take down, but that section of the Spirit Trail isn’t known to be a hotspot for crime, De Jong said.
“No more or no less,” De Jong said. “Our bike patrols guys frequent that area to keep a presence there.”
