Vancouver police identify lesbian couple's attacker

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      Vancouver police have identified a 45-year-old Burnaby man in connection with an assault on a female couple on a bus.

      On September 18, Ali Matson, 24, and her girlfriend boarded the #135 SFU/Burrard Station bus. The couple kissed each other, and when they disembarked near Commercial Drive and Hastings Street around 6:30 p.m., the man followed them. He confronted them and, without provocation, grabbed them both and repeatedly punched them. 

      Matson suffered two black eyes and injuries to her nose. Her girlfriend sustained minor injuries

      Passersby came to the aid of the couple and the man fled the scene.

      After releasing images from surveillance camera footage of the man, the police received several tips from the public.

      In a news release, the VPD stated that they are investigating the nature of the attack, as the couple claims the man became agitated after seeing them kiss.

      "There were allegations made by the victim that she was assaulted due to her sexual orientation, an allegation that is taken very seriously by the Vancouver Police Department and one which is being reviewed by our Hate Crimes Unit," the VPD stated.

      No charges have been laid and police have not released a name yet.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/StraightLGBT.

      Comments

      13 Comments

      person

      Nov 28, 2013 at 1:13pm

      What is the name of the attacker? Why would you promise that in your headline and not provide in the story? It should be the first sentence.

      Another person

      Nov 28, 2013 at 2:09pm

      And The Lord saideth unto thee. Love thy neighbour......unless they are gay or lesbian. Then thou shalt striketh them with thy hypocritical fists

      RUK

      Nov 28, 2013 at 2:19pm

      I think they have to wait until he is charged before giving out his name.

      In any case, what a buttmunch! Ha ha! So glad that he has been found.

      Only... does this kind of validate the idea of closed circuit television monitoring for police purposes? The civil libertarian in me is having an argument with the "let's catch the homophobic buttmunch" part of me.

      what

      Nov 28, 2013 at 8:31pm

      Why isn't this guy charged yet. He now has all the time in the world to get on a bus to the next province and avoid prison for beating some random girl for no reason.

      What a useless system we have. Violent thugs on the street, harmless drug users and petty traffickers stacked to the roof in prison.

      unacceptable

      Nov 28, 2013 at 10:30pm

      we do no tolerate such behaviour here. we will stand up against it. we will find you if you perpetrate it.

      patience

      Nov 28, 2013 at 11:53pm

      Seems reasonable to wait at least until they are sure they have the right guy. Probably a matter of a few days but the last thing anyone wants is naming the wrong person!

      Lily

      Nov 29, 2013 at 8:53am

      What a cowardly act...

      Why wait?

      Nov 29, 2013 at 1:53pm

      I don't understand why the police are waiting. Men who are accused of rape seem to have their name plastered all over the media regardless if they are convicted.

      El Thamarat

      Nov 29, 2013 at 3:37pm

      "...an allegation that is taken very seriously by the Vancouver Police Department...."

      Yeah right!!

      Redneck male probably enjoys...

      Nov 30, 2013 at 2:30pm

      ...woman-on-woman porn made for his consumption.

      Men like this guy are dinosaurs and the sooner they die off the better.