A man charged with assault in connection with an incident involving a mother and her toddler in Vancouver’s Chinatown will return to court Nov. 23, a Vancouver provincial court judge heard Wednesday.
Shakwan Kelly, 27, is charged with one count of assault following the July 9 incident.
Kelly was arrested July 21 in Chinatown after a witness had recognized him and flagged over a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer patrolling the neighbourhood.
The VPD was seeking Kelly provincewide after he had failed to show up in court July 12. Police were also investigating Kelly’s alleged involvement in several criminal offences that occurred the same day.
Shortly before the alleged assault, VPD responded to reports of a shirtless man walking in traffic and kicking cars in the area. The man allegedly kicked one car so hard that it caused a dent in one of the doors.
As VPD officers arrived, a man took off running through Chinatown, striking and knocking over a 40-year-old mother and her toddler who were standing on the south side of East Pender Street near Gore Avenue. The mom struck her head and the child suffered multiple scrapes.
Kelly was arrested moments later on Main Street and was taken to jail.
He was released from custody after being charged with mischief, assault and obstructing a peace officer.
On Aug. 17, Judge James Bahen ordered Kelly be seen by a psychiatrist to determine if he was fit to stand trial.
