Charges laid after mother allegedly assaulted while breastfeeding

CBC
·1 min read
The Vancouver Police Department say a 26-year-old woman has been charged with a assault after a mother was assaulted in her parked vehicle. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC - image credit)
The Vancouver Police Department say a 26-year-old woman has been charged with a assault after a mother was assaulted in her parked vehicle. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC - image credit)

Police say a 26-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly assaulting a mother who was breastfeeding her baby in East Vancouver on Thursday.

Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said in a Friday statement that the attack happened near the intersection of Commercial Drive and East 2nd Avenue around 2:15 p.m. PT on Thursday.

A 32-year-old mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy in the backseat of a parked car, police say, when someone she didn't know opened the door and entered the vehicle.

"The victim and witnesses say the suspect was reaching for and grabbing at the mother and baby," Visintin said.

Police say the mother was in the car with her husband and another family member. She suffered minor injuries while the baby was unharmed.

"Bystanders and other witnesses, they intervened," Visintin said. "They were able to hold the person down until police arrived."

Visintin said the motive for the attack is unknown, and an investigation is ongoing.