A 28-year-old man is facing charges related to four unprovoked stranger assaults over the course of a year.
The Vancouver Police Department says the first incident was reported on Jan. 29, 2025. The victim, a 44-year-old woman, says she was assaulted by a man she didn’t know while walking downtown.
As of Jan. 31, 2026, the VPD says at least three other women had reported similar assaults, describing a similar suspect.
“Each incident allegedly involved the suspect elbowing or shoulder-checking the victims while passing them on downtown sidewalks – in some cases knocking them to the ground,” said a VPD statement.
Police say an investigation led to the arrest of Dylan Brandon Gaita, who has since been charged with four counts of assault.
The department confirmed to CityNews that Gaita is a former volunteer with one of the VPD’s community policing centres, but was released from his duties in March 2023, before the incidents, for not filling the minimum required hours.
The department says Gaita had no criminal record at the time and underwent a criminal record check before volunteering.
VPD Const. Megan Lui says victims might not always report incidents of unprovoked violence by strangers.
“Although we’ve made an arrest in these cases, there may still be additional victims, witnesses, or people with information. That is why we’ve chosen to release the suspect’s photo and ask anyone who has not yet come forward to contact police,” said Lui.
(Courtesy Vancouver Police Department)
Records show Gaita is due back in court for the most recent three charges on Friday.
The VPD is expected to hold a media event related to stranger assaults at noon Wednesday.