Over 800 calls responded to during "Halloween mayhem": VPD

Police in Vancouver responded to an astounding number of calls over the past weekend.

In what they’re describing as “Halloween mayhem,” the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) responded to more than 800 calls for service within a period of 24 hours.

The VPD typically receives a call for service every two minutes and 16 seconds. Between 7 pm on October 31 and 5 am on November 1, however, calls were generated every one minute and 11 seconds.

A number of these calls included “serious criminal incidents,” which resulted in four victims being taken to the hospital.

The first incident occurred on November 1, just after midnight, when a purple Porsche Panamera caught fire near Turner and Lillooet. Police and the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) say that the incident was “likely an arson” but fortunately, the vehicle was unoccupied and no one was injured.

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Another incident occurred “minutes later,” after reports of an altercation at Empire Field near Hastings and Cassiar. The exchange was between two groups and a male victim was stabbed and rushed to the hospital.

Several hours later, at approximately 5:48 am, a woman in her 50s was reportedly struck on the head with a “blunt object” near East Hastings and Columbia streets. She was also taken to the hospital, fortunately with non-life-threatening injuries.

While police responded to the female victim, they were also approached by a male victim with apparent stab wounds. The man, in his late twenties, was also taken to the hospital.

The VPD says that all incidents are currently under investigation. The VFRS also had a busy Halloween night, responding to 300 calls and 40 fires that were caused by consumer fireworks.