Police investigate after woman allegedly knocked by maskless man onto SkyTrain station stairs

Police are investigating after a woman was allegedly bumped at a SkyTrain Station by a maskless man, causing her to fall onto a stairway.

The Metro Vancouver Transit Police say that the incident occurred on January 22 at approximately 5:30 pm. A woman exited a Canada Line SkyTrain at the Richmond-Brighouse Station.

“As she was walking down the stairs to leave the station, the suspect walked up the same set of stairs in her direction,” Constable Mike Yake tells Daily Hive. “As the suspect passed the victim, he allegedly bumped into her causing her to fall backwards onto the set of stairs.”

The suspect reportedly continued to walk up to the platform and left the station on a SkyTrain.

• See also: 
  • Canadian politicians unanimously support call to label Proud Boys a terrorist group
  • “More restrictions will be needed” if BC’s cases don’t drop: Dr. Henry
  • BC’s COVID-19 supply will be extremely limited over coming weeks

The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his 30s standing approximately 6’3″ with a slim build and dark brown hair. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black toque, a beige jacket with white trim, skinny black pants, and black shoes.

The woman involved in the incident also shared details of the event on social media.

“The man who did this was walking in the opposite direction in my direct path, made eye contact with me and proceeded to maintain course — forcefully knocking me backwards with his body,” writes Shannon Pang on Facebook, adding the man did not have a mask on.

“Many bystanders witnessed this and did nothing, said nothing. And the man who did this simply walked over me and boarded the train.”

Yake adds that the investigation is “still in early stages, with several avenues of investigation underway.”

“To protect the integrity of the investigation, we will not be providing further details at this time. We are hoping to provide an update over the coming days.”

TransLink implemented a policy calling for the mandatory use of face masks or coverings while onboard transit vehicles in August 2020.

Daily Hive has reached out to Pang for additional comment.

Editor’s note: The headline of a previous version of this article stated the woman was pushed down the stairs. The headline has been changed to reflect Metro Vancouver Transit Police’s information of the suspected allegedly bumping into the victim, resulting in the fall.