Man charged after pulling knife on senior near Davie and Cardero downtown
Joshua Edward Adams, 36, faces assault and theft charges after a 76-year-old man was robbed at knifepoint on a coffee shop patio Monday morning.
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Joshua Edward Adams, 36, has been charged with assault with a weapon and theft under $5,000 after pulling a knife on a 76-year-old man and stealing his backpack near Davie and Cardero streets on September 9, shortly after 11 a.m.
The victim was sitting on a coffee shop patio when Adams drew a knife and took his backpack before fleeing on foot. A nearby witness called 911 and provided real-time updates on the suspect's movements to dispatchers, allowing officers to locate and arrest Adams a short time later. Adams was taken to Vancouver Jail.
Vancouver police thanked the quick-thinking bystander whose detailed descriptions enabled the rapid arrest. The incident adds to a pattern of weapon-related offences in downtown Vancouver, as HighOnCity reported in July and August on separate incidents involving a chainsaw and a stabbed store sign on Granville Street.
The facts
Who was charged in the Davie and Cardero incident?
Joshua Edward Adams, 36, was charged with assault with a weapon and theft under $5,000.
When did the robbery occur?
The incident happened on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, shortly after 11 a.m. near Davie and Cardero streets.
What was stolen from the victim?
A backpack belonging to the 76-year-old victim was stolen during the knifepoint robbery.
How was the suspect arrested so quickly?
A witness on the coffee shop patio called 911 and provided real-time updates on Adams's movements to dispatchers, allowing officers to locate and arrest him shortly after he fled on foot.
