A 38-year-old man has been charged after a string of apparently random home invasions at a South Surrey mobile home park in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
David William Charles Hoffman has been charged with two counts of breaking and entering, two counts of mischief under $5,000, one count of assault and one count of breaching a release order, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service.
Hoffman remains in custody and his next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, March 3, in Surrey provincial court.
“We understand the matter remains under investigation and the police will be submitting further evidence for charge assessment in the coming days,” the BCPS said.
The charges stem from a string of incidents in the mobile home community near the intersection of King George Boulevard and 160 Street in South Surrey.
Surrey police said they were called to the scene around 1:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a man entering homes and attacking people.
Security footage from one home obtained by CTV News showed a man approaching the front door before banging on it. The male homeowner then opened the door before being attacked. The two then exchanged blows.
Neighbours said the rampage continued with the suspect smashing windows and attempting to enter homes and vehicles before police apprehended him.
- Read more: ‘My heart’s still racing’: Neighbours shaken after random home invasions, assaults in Surrey
‘Serious incident’ at hospital
According to the local health authority, the suspect was involved in yet another incident after being taken to hospital for treatment.
Fraser Health told CTV News a person arrived at Peace Arch Hospital in police custody around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday.
“While we will not provide details regarding this person’s care history, we can share that they were not admitted to Peace Arch Hospital in the days prior to the police incident,” the health authority said in a statement.
Just before noon, the person in police custody was “involved in a serious incident involving police, our staff and medical staff,” Fraser Health said.
“This is a difficult situation for those involved and we are providing support to our staff and medical staff, including counselling and support services to those who may need assistance,” it added. “We are grateful to our staff and medical staff for their ongoing professionalism and dedication to caring for our patients, particularly when distressing events like this occur.”
The patient involved in the incident is in police custody and no longer at Peace Arch Hospital, the health authority said, referring further questions to police.
A B.C. RCMP spokesperson told CTV News officers from the White Rock detachment were called to the hospital after an officer from the RCMP’s Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit requested “immediate backup” to help with a combative person.
“An RCMP officer sustained minor injuries during the altercation,” Mounties said.
The hospital attack became the subject of debate at the B.C. legislature on Thursday, with Opposition Conservative MLAs alleging that the suspect attempted to grab an officer’s gun, and that a health-care worker at the hospital had to intervene to help restrain him.
The Opposition party blamed the incident, in part, on a lack of action from the government on promises to expand involuntary care for people with mental health and addiction issues.
“The fact is that this is what happens when you have a government – an NDP government – that has campaigned twice on involuntary care, and absolutely have done nothing about it,” said Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford.
Neighbours hold meeting
At least 100 concerned community members attended a gathering Wednesday night to discuss the terrifying string of attacks.
“It could have happened to any one of us,” said Monica Star, who helped organized the meeting.
“It was very alarming.”
At the event, the victim’s son, who CTV News is identifying only as Rocco, recounted the harrowing story of his father fighting off the attacker with a hockey stick.
“My dad took it outside and wrestled him on the deck and then proceeded the fight down the ramp and onto the road,” Rocco said.
Police said the suspect is known to them and has a violent history.
Wednesday night’s meeting provided some comfort for a shaken community, according to Star.
“We organized three committees this evening to help with bringing awareness not only to our families, but also to offer the seniors in our community to have someone take a look at their deadbolts, make sure people are safe,” Star said.
“It really touched my heart to feel the community and the love, neighbors coming together and just loving each other,” added Rocco.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Ben Nesbit and Abigail Turner
