A Richmond man has been arrested and charged for two alleged random assaults on Valentine's Day.
Ernesto Mendoza Malgapo, 41, has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm and additional charges are "anticipated," according to Richmond RCMP.
Officers from RCMP's serious crime, general investigation and organized crime units arrested Malgapo near the 8000 block of Cook Road, near Buswell Street, on Friday, Feb. 17 after law enforcement made an appeal for witnesses and video evidence following the two random assaults.
The two incidents occurred during the mid-morning on Feb. 14 in the 6400 block of Buswell Street, between Cook and Saba roads.
The first woman was found by a passer-by lying on the sidewalk and was taken to the hospital. A second woman reported to the police and said she was also assaulted at the same location around the same time of day as she was walking along the sidewalk.
"The random attacks on women in our community are an affront to common decency and goodness. These attacks were the catalyst for all officers at Richmond Detachment to focus their collective efforts in identifying, locating, and arresting the person or persons responsible," said Chief Supt Dave Chauhan, Officer-in-Charge of Richmond RCMP.
"The swift arrest of the suspect in these assaults is the culmination of our dedication in this priority matter. We would also like to extend our thanks to the community and media for their assistance."
-with files from Maria Rantanen
