Male suspect in attack on breastfeeding woman called ‘she’ by Vancouver police

In the press release, Vancouver police described the incident. "A 32-year-old woman was assaulted in her parked vehicle near Commercial Drive and East 2nd Avenue just after 2 p.m. on May 9 by a person she didn’t know."

"Bystanders and witnesses intervened and held the person until VPD officers arrived and took the suspect into custody.”

“She remains in custody until her next court appearance. The file remains under investigation,” the release stated. The suspect was charged with assault.

According to Global News, the suspect in the case is Nathaniel Francis Beekmeyer. A video from the scene obtained by the outlet showed the shirtless male handcuffed and being walked out of the area by police.

Journalist Amy Hamm pointed out in a post on X, that the police referred to the individual as "she" in its press release. "It is deplorable that this crime will be recorded as having been committed by a female," she said.

"Not our crimes," Hamm added.

In a statement to City News, Const. Tania Visintin said, "The victim and witnesses say the suspect was reaching for and grabbing at the mother and baby. The mother, a woman in her 30s from Vancouver, screamed, held onto the baby, and attempted to fight off the man."

"We don’t know the motive, we don’t know much about what the suspect was doing before their interaction with this woman," she added. "What we do know is that this was very terrifying for the people involved."

"We commend the bystanders for intervening and holding this person down," Visintin said. She noted that the suspect in the case has a history of mental health issues.

Beekmeyer will remain in police custody until a May 15 court appearance. Vancouver police are asking anyone with information related to this crime to contact its Special Investigation Section at 604-717-0601.