Charges laid in racially motivated attack on 92-year-old Asian man
A 50-year-old man has been charged after a racially motivated attack that took place against an Asian man in East Vancouver.
On March 13, a 92-year-old man with severe dementia wandered into a convenience store near Nanaimo Street and East 1st Avenue.
As store staff were trying to help the man, a white male “began yelling racist remarks at the victim,” according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).
The suspect then shoved the 92-year-old outside of the store, causing him to fall and hit his head. He fled the scene but was identified shortly after police issued a call for public assistance.
The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) tells Daily Hive that Jamie Allen Bezanson has been charged with assault.
“His first appearance is scheduled for August 10 in Vancouver Provincial Court,” says Dan McLaughlin of the BCPS in an email.
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Earlier this month, the VPD said that hate-related incidents continued to occur “at a higher than normal rate,” including those targeting Vancouver’s Asian communities.
On July 17, police said that they had identified 155 hate-associated reports, compared to 69 during the same time period in 2019.
Anyone who is a victim of a hate crime is asked to call 911. Non-emergency incidents can be reported by calling 604-717-3321 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
With files from Eric Zimmer
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