Assault charge approved against man linked to four unprovoked attacks on Commercial Drive

Vancouver police have approved an assault charge against 29-year-old Dylan Gaita in connection with an unprovoked attack on a woman on Commercial Drive on June 29, marking the first formal charge in a series of incidents across the city.

Gaita was walking near East 1st Avenue and Commercial Drive when he elbowed the woman at about 6:20 p.m. Police shared video footage of the incident in a public appeal on June 30. Following that appeal, investigators discovered another alleged attack by Gaita on June 28, when a man walking on Commercial Drive at Charles Street reported being shoulder-checked by him, causing the pedestrian to lose his balance. The man reported the incident on July 4 after seeing the police appeal.

Before the Commercial Drive incidents, Gaita had been linked to four prior strange assaults against women, according to Vancouver Police. Others responded to police posts on social media claiming they'd also been attacked by him. One person reported Gaita using his elbow to try to hit her in the face near Granville Street; she said she moved out of the way and he only struck her arm.

"Incidents like this are serious and frightening for victims and witnesses," said Constable Megan Lui when the appeal was first issued. "Some people may feel too upset to talk to us. We encourage anyone with information to come forward."

Gaita remains in custody.