A Vancouver man was arrested by the Vancouver Police on Friday night following four separate unprovoked attacks in the Downtown Eastside where the victims were slashed with a knife.

At around 8:20 p.m. on April 27, police were called to the area of East Hastings and Princess Avenue after a 50-year-old man was allegedly approached from behind and slashed across the neck. The suspect ran off and the victim was treated for minor physical injuries.

Ten minutes later a second attack happened to a 56-year-old man just blocks away near Keefer and Jackson Avenue. He too suffered relatively minor stab wounds.

The third incident happened at approximately 8:40 p.m. close to Jackson and Union Street when a woman in her 80s was slashed across the neck before her attacker ran off. Witnesses provided assistance before she was rushed to hospital with what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

The final assault was against a 24-year-old man at 8:50 p.m. along Keefer Street at Gore Avenue. The victim received facial injuries before fighting off the attacker who continued west towards Main Street.

Vancouver Police officers had flooded the area after the report of the first assault. Two officers arrested the suspect less than five minutes after the last attack, putting an end to the string of violent crimes.

All of the victims are Vancouver residents and are expected to recover from their physical injuries. Resources from the Vancouver Police’s Victim and Witness Services were called out to assist in helping those involved to deal with the emotional impacts.

Crown counsel has approved four counts of aggravated assault against Joshua David Mennear, 23, from Vancouver. He remains in custody.

Anyone who may have information about these crimes, and has not yet spoken with police, is asked to call Vancouver Police’s Major Crime detectives at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.