VANCOUVER Police on Tuesday arrested a 45-year-old man following an alleged armed road rage incident in South Vancouver.
On October 20 at approximately 12 p.m., VPD received a report of an incident near Fraser Street and East 45th Avenue. The victim reported she was driving and slowed down for a speed bump, prompting a male driver behind her to begin tailgating. The man then passed her on the left, stopped in front of her vehicle and approached her window. She alleged he produced what appeared to be a black handgun and pointed it at her before driving away.
With the assistance of responding surveillance and the VPD Emergency Response Team (ERT), officers located the suspect vehicle parked near Knight Street and East 57th Avenue. A man matching the description of the suspect was walking away from the vehicle. Officers observed the man discard an object in the west lane of Knight Street, near East 57th Avenue. The man returned to the parked vehicle and drove away. ERT members successfully disabled the vehicle about a block away and took him into custody without incident.
Officers recovered a BB gun in the laneway at the location they had observed the man discarding something.
“This was a frightening ordeal for a driver simply going about her day,” said Constable Darren Wong. “Thanks to the quick response and action of our officers, we were able to safely take the suspect into custody and recover the weapon.”
Rahat Arshad Ali, 45, has been charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats, and possession of a weapon for a danger purpose, and using an imitation firearm in the commission of an offence. He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
