Man accused of stranger assaults charged again on Commercial Drive

Dylan Brandon Gaita, 29, has been charged with assault after a woman was allegedly attacked near East 1st Avenue and Commercial Drive on Monday evening, June 29. The woman was walking near the intersection around 6:20 p.m. when a man walking in the opposite direction elbowed her in the face as he passed.

Gaita was arrested in March in connection with a series of alleged stranger assaults targeting women in downtown Vancouver. He had been charged with four counts of assault in connection with incidents on January 21, April 26, April 29, 2025, and January 31, 2026. Police had released his photo and asked the public for additional victims and witnesses to come forward.

Vancouver police renewed that appeal Tuesday. "Incidents like this are serious and frightening for victims and witnesses," said Const. Megan Lui in a release. "Some people may feel too upset to talk to us. We encourage anyone with information to come forward and speak with investigators as they work on this case."