North Vancouver RCMP say they're still searching for a man who stabbed a 59-year-old stranger on one of Grouse Mountain's trails last week.
Police thought they had the culprit when they arrested a 26-year-old North Vancouver man Tuesday night following several tips from the public and a followup investigation.
But by Thursday morning, as a result of new information, charges of assault with a weapon and aggravated assault were dropped and the suspect was released from custody.
"He is ruled out," said Corp. Richard De Jong. "He is not our guy."
De Jong refused to say what kind of information had led to the man's arrest or subsequent decision to rule him out as suspect. He said police believe the person who attacked the stranger on the trail is still at large and are appealing for tips from the public. "There are a lot of concerned people out there," he said. "It is a high profile incident."
The developments this week follow a bizarre incident Nov. 5 when a 59 year-old Vancouver man was heading up the BCMC trail on Grouse Mountain around 4 p.m. and happened across a stranger who was coming down the trail. Police said the two got into an "unprovoked altercation" and the stranger stabbed the victim in the abdomen.
The victim met a group of other hikers who were able to call for help. He is expected to make a full recovery.
