National

Vancouver cop charged after pedestrian struck in city's Downtown Eastside last year

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Sep, 2023 05:15 PM

Prosecutors in British Columbia have approved multiple charges against a Vancouver police officer a year after a pedestrian was hit by a police car in the city's Downtown Eastside.

Const. Jack Zhao has been charged with driving without due care and attention, failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, and speeding.

The province's prosecution service says the charges were approved by an experienced Crown counsel who has no connection with the officer.

Alleged video of the incident on Sept. 20, 2022, that was shared by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, shows a person standing motionless in the middle of East Hastings Street.

A black police cruiser appears to hit the man without swerving and he is thrown about 10 metres as the car skids to a halt.

At the time the provincial Independent Investigations Office said the man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Zhao's first appearance is scheduled for Sept. 28 in Vancouver provincial court.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Housing, dental benefits had low take-up: report

The federal dental benefit was rolled out in the fall to provide families with up to $650 per child under 12 for dental care. It was the first step toward creating a national dental care program, a key promise in the Liberals' confidence-and-supply agreement with the NDP.

Housing, dental benefits had low take-up: report

War on drugs redux: U.S. cracks down on fentanyl

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says a continental strategy for dealing with fentanyl will be a key priority during the meetings. The U.S. has already embarked on an aggressive law-enforcement approach, seizing more than 2,200 kilograms of fentanyl in the last month — virtually all of it coming across the southern border.

War on drugs redux: U.S. cracks down on fentanyl

Federal workers to strike if no deal by tonight

Mediated contract negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the government began in early April and continued through the weekend in what the union describes as the government's last chance to reach a deal.

Federal workers to strike if no deal by tonight

Officers to testify at inquest of B.C. man's death

Myles Gray, who was 33, died in August 2015, shortly after a beating by seven officers, leaving him with a broken eye socket, a crushed voice box, a ruptured testicle and other injuries. The inquest began Monday in Burnaby, B.C., with testimony from six of the more than 40 witnesses expected to appear over 10 days.

Officers to testify at inquest of B.C. man's death

Legal door-to-door pot delivery launches in B.C.

Uber Canada says, starting immediately, B.C. residents over the age of 19 can use the Uber Eats app to order marijuana from local, licensed retailers. The statement from Uber Eats says its delivery workers won't be involved because certified staff from the cannabis retailer will instead deliver the order to the customer and verify the recipient's age and sobriety.

Legal door-to-door pot delivery launches in B.C.

B.C. toxic drug deaths in 2023 approach record

It says that's the second highest total ever recorded over the first three months of a calendar year, behind only 2022 when 599 people died. The figures also show that 2,314 deaths due to toxic drugs occurred last year, making the annual toll the deadliest on record since a public health emergency was declared in 2016.