Repeat offender accused of assaulting Vancouver teen in May was arrested, released months earlier: VPD

Vancouver police say the Surrey man, who since late May has been facing charges related to an alleged violent crime spree, including sexually assaulting a minor, was arrested, charged, and released after another disturbing crime two months prior.

On May 28, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says it responded to a 911 call around 5:40 p.m. reporting sexual assault in an office building near Oakridge Centre at Cambie Street and West 41st Avenue.

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Police say the events started at 5:15 p.m., when a 58-year-old woman alleges she was grabbed by a stranger while leaving a medical appointment in the building.

“She screamed and managed to get away without serious physical injury,” the VPD explained in a statement Friday.

Minutes later, police say a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a stranger who confined her to a public washroom in the same building while threatening her with a knife.

“The suspect escaped after another person tried to enter the washroom as the sexual assault was taking place.”

Shortly after, a man entered a bank on the main floor of the building and allegedly committed a robbery, police say.

That’s when VPD officers arrived and arrested a suspect.

Sixty-two-year-old John Frederick Field of Surrey has since been charged with five crimes, including sexual assault with a weapon against a person under 16, forcible confinement, and carrying a concealed weapon, as well as robbery and assault.

Field has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple previous sexual assault convictions.

Police say he is also facing charges related to an incident earlier in 2025.

On March 26, police responded to a report from a woman who said she was awoken by a prowler outside her apartment near 1st Avenue and Commercial Drive around 4:30 a.m.

Field was identified as a suspect and arrested, but police say he was released before charges for the prowling incident were laid on June 5.

Court records show he has been charged with one count of trespassing at night.

“We are unable to speak for the BC Prosecution Service with regard to the timing of the charge approval, however, the VPD investigation was complete prior to the May 28 incidents,” said police in a statement to 1130 NewsRadio.

Field is expected in court on Thursday, June 26, to face the charges related to the events of May 28, the March trespassing, and an additional count of theft under $5,000 related to a May 6 incident.

—With files from Sonia Aslam and Srushti Gangdev