Man charged with fifth stranger assault on Commercial Drive
Dylan Brandon Gaita, 29, was caught on video elbowing a woman near 1st and Commercial on June 29. He's been linked to at least four prior unprovoked attacks.
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A man was caught on video committing a stranger attack on Commercial Drive and has been linked to at least four prior assaults against women in Vancouver.
Dylan Brandon Gaita, 29, has been charged with one count of assault in connection with an incident on June 29 near East 1st Avenue and Commercial Drive. Video shows Gaita allowing several people to pass by him before he sticks his elbow up, striking a woman, then reacting as if it were an accident. He is currently in custody.
In March, Vancouver Police shared information about Gaita in connection with four assaults between January 2025 and January 2026. Each incident allegedly involved the suspect elbowing or shoulder-checking victims while passing them on downtown sidewalks — in some cases knocking them to the ground.
Gaita was arrested on March 5, 2026, in connection with those previous attacks. The VPD is now asking anyone who may have witnessed the June 29 incident to contact police, as investigators believe there are other victims who haven't come forward. "Some people may feel too upset to talk to us," Constable Megan Lui said. "We encourage anyone with information to come forward and speak with investigators."
