A man who allegedly left a woman bleeding from her head in a suspected Vancouver stranger attack has been released back into the community just 48 hours later.
We initially published a story about the attack on June 29.
VPD shared that a woman suffered significant injuries after being hit with a piece of wood on Kits Beach just before 2 p.m. on June 28.
“Witnesses described the weapon as a piece of lumber or driftwood about the size and thickness of a baseball bat,” VPD said.
The victim’s partner intervened along with several witnesses. Police arrested Carlos Caldera Duarte at a dollar store near the beach. Crown Counsel approved a charge of assault with a weapon against him.
Yesterday, the VPD revealed that Duarte was released back into the community after 48 hours in custody.
“Caldera Duarte was charged with one count of assault with a weapon. He was released from custody yesterday with court-imposed conditions and is scheduled to return to court on July 7,” VPD said.
Many people had thoughts in response to the release on VPD’s official X account.
One X user replied, “What are we even doing, B.C.?”
“This is horrible, violent crimes against persons should be non-bailable,” another user commented.
This is just plain wrong!🤬 So between now & July 7th there is a very dangerous person walking around Vancouver just waiting to hurt another innocent person. The VPD did their job & caught him but our system is pro criminal & that endangers all others.
— Michelle Lim (@THELIMS4) July 1, 2026
While some put their frustrations on the VPD, the force doesn’t decide who stays in custody and for how long. That’s up to BC Prosecution Service, as another user points out.
“Crown did not fight hard enough to keep him in custody. BC Prosecution Service was instructed to do so two years ago.”
On June 30, in a separate incident, VPD shared footage of a 29-year-old man who was involved in a stranger attack against a woman in East Vancouver on Commercial Drive. In the video, he sticks his elbow up and seemingly strikes a woman right in the face.
The suspect involved in that attack, 29-year-old Dylan Brandon Gaita, had been linked to at least four prior attacks.
“Each incident allegedly involved the suspect elbowing or shoulder-checking the victims while passing them on downtown sidewalks – in some cases knocking them to the ground,” VPD said at the time.
Last we heard from the VPD, Gaita was still in custody.