Assault charge laid after senior shoved into SkyTrain: police

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say a 34-year-old man has been charged inan unprovoked attack against a senior at a SkyTrain station earlier this month.

Transit police say a 70-year-old man was waiting on the platform at Granville Station on the afternoon of March 11 when he heard yelling behind him, but didn't respond. As a train approached, someone pushed the senior, who fell headfirst into the train.

Several passengers intervened, police said, blocking the suspect from the victim, who lay on the ground. He was taken to hospital with head and facial injuries that required surgery.

The suspect ran out of the station while a witness called 911. Police say evidence from the scene and witness reports led to his arrest severaldays later.

Tyler Meetoos has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, police say. He was released from custody with several conditions, including that he must stay away fromSkyTrain stations.

According to the B.C. Prosecution Service, Meetoos also faces a charge for possessing a weapon. The alleged offence took placein Vancouver last November.

He is next scheduled to appear in court on both files onMarch 28.

In a statement, Transit Police Const. Amanda Steed praised passengers for their actions.

"We would like to thank the people who witnessed this horrific assault, placed themselves between the victim and aggressor, called for help, and took time out of their day to give detailed statements to officers," Steed said.