Scary East Vancouver home invasion and kidnapping ends in police chase
A 62-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was the victim of a terrifying incident that started at a Vancouver home earlier this week.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) report that they received a 911 call about a home invasion and a kidnapping in East Vancouver at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.
“A 62-year-old man was allegedly taken from his home and forced into a vehicle,” said VPD in a release.
“Approximately 30 minutes later, the suspect vehicle was spotted near Slocan and East Broadway.”
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VPD added that the Vancouver kidnapping suspects did not stop for police and were pursued to the neighbourhood of 14th Avenue and Woodland Drive, where officers boxed in the suspects’ vehicle.
“The two suspects fled the vehicle, but were taken into custody with the assistance of the VPD’s Canine Unit,” said police. “The victim was taken to hospital with injuries.”
The suspects, 26-year-old Fazeel Salman and 24-year-old Reignings Besong Awah, have each been charged with one count of kidnapping. VPD said that the pair remain in custody.
It has been a busy time recently for the Vancouver police.
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On March 18, just before 4 p.m., a 59-year-old woman was at West 8th Avenue and Spruce Street, using a walker.
A 41-year-old man reportedly grabbed her purse. The woman fell to the ground, resulting in some minor injuries.
A driver saw the incident occur, stopped his vehicle, and chased the suspect. The witness went back to the scene with the purse and gave police a description of the suspect.
“Thanks to this description, our officers located the suspect moments later near the seawall,” said Constable Megan Lui.
The VPD has also issued a warning to the public about a violent offender who has been released back into the community less than a month after a brazen escape attempt.
According to the VPD, Jordan McIntosh was previously released into the community last September to serve a conditional sentence order related to two counts of assault and one count of breach of a release order from an incident in 2024.
McIntosh’s release had several conditions, including that he wear an ankle monitor. However, he cut off the device and went on the run in early December.