A Vancouver police officer is recovering after being stabbed while on patrol in the Downtown Eastside on Tuesday.
The suspect, 29-year-old Solaris Onatta Running Dey, was revealed to have a history of violence and mental health issues.
According to the Vancouver Police Department, the officer in question was walking near East Hastings St. and Main St. with his colleague shortly after 7 p.m. when Dey approached him from behind.
After pulling out a bladed weapon, Dey allegedly stabbed the officer in the leg and fled the scene. He was located minutes later and taken into custody, where he will remain until his next court date. He was subsequently charged with aggravated assault of a police officer and assault of a peace officer with a weapon.
The officer received emergency first aid and was then taken to hospital to receive treatment. He has since been released and is recovering at home.
"This is another example of the unpredictable nature of police work, and the dangers VPD officers face every day while working to keep Vancouver safe," Cnst. Tania Visintin lamented.
According to the Richmond News, Dey began experiencing mental health issues at age 20, and had been "involuntarily hospitalized on several occasions." Dey's girlfriend, Aspen Pallot, was found dead in his room in In 2018.
The then-22-year-old was quickly arrested on suspicion of killing her. After examining all the evidence, BC Supreme Court justice Michael Tammen eventually declared that the "only rational conclusion" was that Dey strangled her to death.
After serving 994 days in pretrial detention, Dey was sentenced to two years in prison and three years probation. In 2023, he was arrested again for breaching the terms of his probation.