Suspect charged after popular Chinatown security guard attacked

A man has been arrested after a beloved Chinatown security guard was assaulted Friday.

Vancouver police say it happened at around 11 a.m. when the 64-year-old year victim, a fixture in the Chinatown community, was assaulted by a stranger.

Bystanders tried to intervene and called 9-1-1, but the suspect escaped before police arrived.

Police say the security guard was making his rounds near East Pender and Columbia Streets. They add he was taking photos in the area when he was attacked.

“He was hurt and had to go to hospital for treatment. He’s now been released and is recovering,” Sgt. Steve Addison with VPD told CityNews.

VPD say officers later located a suspect in Gastown and made an arrest.

Kevin Aaron Hibbard, 44, has been charged with assault.