A woman has been arrested and released after Vancouver police say another woman was seemingly randomly stabbed in the leg with what appears to be a used hypodermic needle on the Downtown Eastside.
It happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Main Street and East Pender Street.
Police say the 23-year-old was leaving a coffee shop when she was assaulted.
“Investigators believe the woman may have been followed out of the coffee shop and confronted by the suspect, who then stabbed her with the dirty needle,” said Sgt. Steve Addison. “All signs point to this being a random and unprovoked assault on a victim who did nothing wrong.”
The VPD says officers were able to identify a suspect quickly, arresting a 35-year-old who is known to them a short time later.
The woman who was stabbed was taken to the hospital, with police saying it’s unclear “whether there will be any long-term health impacts” because they don’t know what was in the needle.
The 35-year-old suspect has been released on condition she will attend a later court date.