BC Ferries passenger charged after allegedly punching, kicking, biting employees

Mounties have provided an update about a man accused of attacking BC Ferries employees on a vessel leaving Vancouver over the weekend.

Officials say the suspect, a passenger, was on one of the vehicle decks on the Spirit of British Columbia departing from Tsawwassen on the morning of June 28 when the crew was reminding passengers that they needed to vacate their vehicles and head up to the passenger decks due to Transport Canada regulations.

The BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union alleges the man became physically violent with a deckhand who called a second officer for backup. When all seemed calm, he suddenly ran across the vehicle deck and up the stairs towards the ferry’s cafeteria. The union says the man jumped over a counter of food and landed on his back. When the second officer found him, the man allegedly kicked the officer, who eventually caught his foot. That’s when the man allegedly spun and bit the officer on the arm.

Finally, more staff were able to subdue the suspect until the vehicle docked in Victoria, and the injured second officer was taken to hospital for assessment.

In an update Wednesday, the Sidney North Saanich RCMP says the suspect was arrested without further incident and has since been released on restrictive conditions.

Details are limited, but Mounties say he is facing two counts of assault and one count of mischief.

The suspect is expected to appear in court on Sept. 22.

In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, BC Ferries says it is deeply concerned by the incident and the behavior is “unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

The RCMP says evidence gathering is ongoing.