VANCOUVER Police say that warm weekend weather brought large crowds to the city’s beaches and parks, keeping them busy as officers responded to dozens of incidents involving intoxication, violence, and noise complaints.

“We’re thrilled to see so many people enjoying the warm weather in this beautiful city, however big crowds often result in more calls for police at our beaches and parks,” said Sgt. Steve Addison on Monday. “We’re here to make sure our public spaces continue to be safe and comfortable places to gather, but we need everyone’s help to have a safe summer.”

Starting next weekend, VPD will deploy extra officers to beaches and waterfront parks, as large crowds are expected to continue throughout the summer. Beach patrol officers, who deploy on all-terrain vehicles and work exclusively on the waterfront, will provide extra police presence to ensure public safety and respond quickly to incidents as soon as they occur. Anyone witnessing a crime or feeling unsafe is encouraged to call police right away for immediate assistance.

Emergencies should be reported to 9-1-1.

Weekend incidents of note:

English Bay / Sunset Beach

• A woman enjoying the morning at Sunset Beach on Friday called police around 9 a.m. to report that her purse had been stolen while she wasn’t looking. Officers responded and opened an investigation, but the purse was not recovered and the suspect remains unidentified.

• A 17-year-old was robbed of her phone at English Bay by a group of teen girls on Saturday night. The victim and her friend left the area after the robbery, then called police an hour later from East Vancouver. A VPD officer responded, contacted the victim’s mother, and waited with her and her friend until an adult arrived to take them home safely. Police believe the victim knows the girls who stole her phone.

• A large fight broke out around 9 p.m. Saturday night involving a group of teens. A 19-year-old man was slashed in the arm with a knife, then kicked in the head. VPD officers were patrolling nearby when the fight broke out and immediately intervened to disperse the crowd. The officers cared for the injured victim and arrested a 15-year-old suspect. A second suspect fled. The victim was taken to hospital for medical care.

• An intoxicated cyclist riding with an open can of beer pushed a 75-year-old man who was walking in the bike lane on the Seawall near Sunset Beach. The cyclist then threw his bike at a skateboarder, threatened to kill him, and rode off. Police officers patrolled the area, however the cyclist continued around the Seawall and has not been located.
• A 15-year-old girl was found heavily intoxicated, passed out, and unable to care for herself on the beach Saturday night. VPD officers assisted BC Ambulance Service in caring for the girl, who needed medical attention.

• A 24-year-old man was intoxicated when he assaulted two strangers and sprayed them with beer around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday. He was arrested by VPD and held in custody until he was sober and no longer violent.

• A 25-year-old man was intoxicated and causing a disturbance on the beach at English Bay shortly after 11:15 p.m. on Saturday. VPD officers encouraged him to leave, however, he told police he was going to start robbing people. Given his intoxication and threat of violence, VPD officers arrested the man and held him in custody until he was sober and no longer a threat to public safety. 

• A West End resident reported a group of six intoxicated men making noise and smashing glass bottles near the parking lot at Sunset Beach around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The group left shortly after the witness called police and was gone when officers arrived. 

• A passerby called police to report seeing a man assaulting a woman near Sunset Beach shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday. VPD officers responded, located the suspect, and arrested him. He was taken to jail for assaulting the woman. Charges are recommended.

• A beachgoer called police to report a man carrying a heavily intoxicated woman on the beach around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday. The man was seen taking the woman into a public washroom and splashing water on her face. Officers responded and searched for the man and woman, however, they had already left the area.

Kits Beach

• A cyclist was riding near Kits Beach around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon when a passerby jumped in front of him, tried to stop him, and threatened to assault him. The cyclist called police, and officers located the 33-year-old suspect walking nearby. The man was arrested.

• Shortly after midnight on Sunday, officers responded to reports of a woman swearing and yelling at passersby, making them feel unsafe. Officers arrived, located the woman, and recognized that she having a mental health episode. The officers spoke to the woman and helped her calm down.

David Lam Park

• Officers responded to reports of a man sitting in the park and watching children around 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The person who called police was familiar with the man, who had previously been seen behaving suspiciously in the park. Although the man had not committed a criminal offence, the park user felt uneasy and concerned for the safety of others. Officers responded, identified the man, and are conducting further investigation.

Plaza of Nations

• A cyclist riding on the Seawall was spat on by another bike rider, who also threatened to shoot him. The victim, a 20-year-old man, called police for help and officers searched the area. The suspect rode away immediately after the incident and has not been identified.

Stanley Park

• A beachgoer called 9-1-1 and reported two suspicious men who appeared to be following young girls and videotaping them near Third Beach Saturday evening. Officers responded and located the suspects, however, the girls appear to have been picked up by an adult shortly after the incident and have not yet been identified. The investigation is ongoing.

• A 59-year-old man was stargazing with his wife near Prospect Point shortly after midnight on Sunday when he was approached by a stranger who threatened to kill him with a hatchet. VPD officers immediately responded and arrested a 52-year-old suspect in possession of a knife, a hatchet, and a hacksaw. The man was taken to jail and faces multiple criminal charges.

• A family was having a picnic near Brockton Oval Sunday evening when one of the picnickers was struck in the head by a ball from a cricket match that was taking place nearby. There was a physical confrontation between the picknickers and the cricket players, resulting in police being called to the park. Officers spoke to everyone involved, calmed them down, and helped the picnickers find a better spot to enjoy their eveing.

CRAB park

• A victim called 9-1-1 at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and reported being threatened by a man with a gun near the encampment at CRAB Park. The suspect was seen entering a tent in the encampment. Officers responded and located the suspect, who was in possession of a replica handgun, which he had hidden under a sandbag at the encampment. The suspect was arrested and taken to jail.

Hinge Park

• A woman digging in a small garden near Hinge Park, just west of the Olympic Village, unearthed an old grenade Sunday morning. It is still unclear how long the grenade had been there or who put it there, however, there was significant concern for public safety because it appeared to be a live grenade. Officers secured the area and kept the public out of harm’s way, while explosives technicians from VPD’s Emergency Response Team destroyed the grenade. The investigation is ongoing.