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Man charged in unprovoked attack at famous Vancouver beach released after less than 48 hours
A man accused of attacking a woman on Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver has been released after spending less than 48 hours in custody.
The incident occurred on June 28, just before 2 p.m., when local police received several 911 calls reporting a man striking an apparently unsuspecting woman on the head with a piece of wood.
Witnesses described the weapon as a piece of lumber or driftwood about the size and thickness of a baseball bat, Vancouver Police Department said in a news release.
The woman was walking along the beach, which is one of Vancouver’s most popular waterfront spots, with her partner when she was attacked.
Police said her partner intervened and several witnesses came to assist, while other witnesses followed the suspect and called 911.
Carlos Caldera Duarte was arrested by Vancouver Police shortly after the incident in a dollar store near the beach.
The victim, who police say was bleeding from the head and slipping in and out of consciousness, was taken to the hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.
Sgt. Adam Donaldson of the Vancouver Police Department said in a news release on Monday: “This appears to be an unprovoked assault in a busy public place. We’re grateful to the witnesses who intervened, followed the suspect, and provided critical information to police.”
Caldera Duarte spent less than 48 hours in custody before being released back into the community on Tuesday. He was released with court-imposed conditions and is scheduled to return to court on July 7, police said.
The decision to release him has drawn criticism from Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, British Columbia, who called the attack “extremely concerning” in a social media post.
“Especially because of the random nature of this attack, this is the type of scenario where British Columbians would want a suspect held in custody,” she wrote.
“There is no doubt many people will be questioning whether recent bail reforms have gone far enough.”
Legal records show that Caldera Duarte was charged with assault with a weapon on June 28 and attended two bail hearings at Vancouver Provincial Court on June 29 and June 30. Judge Kathryn Denhoff fixed a court date for Tuesday.
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