SkyTrain custodian has teeth knocked out during "reprehensible" attack

In what Transit Police are calling a “reprehensible” attack, a SkyTrain custodian lost a number of teeth in a violent encounter.

According to Transit Police Sgt. Clint Hampton, the incident took place this past Monday, around 11:30 pm, while the employee was working onboard a SkyTrain headed to VCC Clark Station.

“He was approached by a man who, allegedly, without provocation, violently punched him in the face,” said Hampton. “The victim was struck so hard that he lost multiple teeth and began bleeding heavily from the mouth.”

Hampton said police were on scene “within minutes,” and the suspect was subsequently arrested on a SkyTrain car at VCC Clark Station. The victim was brought to the hospital by paramedics to be treated for his injuries.

Now, 25-year-old Ismael Konate of no fixed address, and who police said is well-known to them, has been charged with one count of Assault Causing Bodily Harm. He was released from custody with multiple conditions, said Hampton, including not to have contact with the victim, not to be on SkyTrain, and not to possess firearms or weapons.

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His next court appearance is scheduled for February 9, 2021, at 9 am in Vancouver Provincial Court.

“An attack like this is reprehensible,” said Hampton. “This employee was providing an essential and highly valuable service to the public by maintaining a clean and healthy space for transit users during a pandemic.”

Everyone, he added, “has the right to ride on transit without fear of harassment or assault, including frontline employees who keep the system moving.”