Dylan Brandon Gaita, 29, has been charged with a fifth count of assault after a woman was allegedly elbowed in the face near East 1st Avenue and Commercial Drive on Monday evening, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
Details of the Latest Incident
Investigators said the woman was walking near the intersection around 6:20 p.m. when a man walking in the opposite direction elbowed her in the face as he passed. The attack, described as unprovoked, occurred in the popular Commercial Drive area, known locally as "The Drive." Police did not disclose the victim's condition but confirmed she was not seriously injured.
The new charge comes months after Vancouver police warned the public about Gaita following his arrest in March in connection with a series of alleged stranger assaults targeting women in downtown Vancouver.
Background of the Case
The investigation began in January 2025 after a 44-year-old woman was assaulted by a stranger while walking near Granville and Dunsmuir streets. At least three other women later reported similar attacks, where a suspect elbowed or shoulder-checked women while passing them on sidewalks. In some cases, the victims were knocked to the ground.
Gaita was arrested on March 5 and initially charged with four counts of assault in connection with incidents on Jan. 21, April 26, April 29, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026. At the time, Vancouver police released Gaita’s photo and appealed for additional victims and witnesses to come forward, noting that random stranger assaults are not always reported immediately.
Police Appeal for Information
Police renewed that appeal on Tuesday. “Incidents like this are serious and frightening for victims and witnesses,” said Vancouver police Const. Megan Lui in a news release. “Some people may feel too upset to talk to us. We encourage anyone with information to come forward and speak with investigators as they work on this case.”
The Vancouver Police Department emphasized that stranger assaults, though rare, can have a significant impact on community safety perceptions. They urged anyone who may have been a victim or witness to contact investigators.
Separate Assault at Kitsilano Beach
The incident near Commercial Drive occurred a day after Vancouver police arrested another man in a separate stranger assault at Kitsilano Beach. Police received several 911 calls on Sunday, just before 2 p.m., after bystanders at the popular westside beach reported seeing a man pick up a piece of wood and hit a woman on the head.
The woman was walking along the beach with her partner when the man allegedly struck her from behind with the piece of wood, about the size of a baseball bat. The woman’s partner intervened, and other witnesses jumped in. Officers arrested Carlos Caldera Duarte minutes later at a dollar store near the beach. He is facing one count of assault with a weapon.
The victim, who was bleeding from the head and going in and out of consciousness, was taken to hospital for treatment. She is expected to recover, said police.
