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This map shows the location of two assaults that happened in downtown Richmond last week.
Photo courtesy Richmond RCMP
Police believe the occupant(s) of this white Mercedes SUV may have witnessed one of the assaults that took place in Richmond last week.
Photo courtesy Richmond RCMP
Police believe the occupant(s) of this white Mercedes SUV may have witnessed one of the assaults that took place in Richmond last week.
Photo courtesy Richmond RCMP
Police make second appeal for witnesses after random, violent assaults
Published 5:13 PST, Thu February 23, 2023
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Police are making a second appeal for witnesses following two random, violent assaults on women that happened on Feb. 14.
The assaults occurred along Buswell Street, between Cook and Saba roads, shortly after 10 a.m. that day.
Initially, a bystander flagged down a Richmond RCMP officer along the 6400 block of Buswell Street after she discovered a woman lying unconscious on the sidewalk. The woman did not regain consciousness at the scene, and was transported to hospital by emergency health services. In the absence of witnesses at the scene, investigators initially believed this was a medical emergency of some sort.
Later that evening, a second woman reported to police that she had been randomly assaulted by an unknown man around the same time and location where the first woman had been found. She too had been rendered unconscious for a brief time, but did not report the matter to police in the first instance.
In the interest of public safety, a team of Richmond RCMP investigators immediately began a very thorough investigation, which quickly lead to the identification and location of the suspect believed to be responsible for these violent assaults. On Friday (Feb. 17), investigators arrested 41-year-old Ernesto Mendoza Malgapo of Richmond.
Malgapo currently remains in custody, facing one charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to section 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday (March 1).
Investigators are urging more witnesses to come forward. In particular, the investigation has revealed that a man stopped to assist the second victim after she was assaulted. Investigators believe he may have witnessed the assault and would like to speak with him directly.
They would also like to speak with the driver and occupants of a white Mercedes sport utility vehicle (SUV) captured on video in the area at the time of one of the assaults.
Given the typically high volume of traffic and pedestrians near the crime scene on weekday mornings, investigators believe there are further witnesses who have not yet come forward.
Anyone who may have witnessed these assaults, or who may have dash-cam video from the area, is asked to call Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 and quote file numbers 2023-4816 or 4877.
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