I was just at the Tim Hortons just off the Red Mile on 8th street.
A street person came in and got a coffee.
Something set him off. He started screaming and cursing at the staff. He told them to go back to their own country.
He threw his coffee and pushed stuff off the counter. Family were there with kids and he was using the foulest language possible.
He went outside and got his shopping cart and attacked 2 other street people in the alley beside Tim’s. I left and began walking home along 17th as I live in Mission.
He came out of the alley and came back onto 17th past all the bars. Sidewalk was loaded with people. I could hear him screaming and cursing at everyone and I was half a block behind him. He told some Indian people to go back where they came from and threatened to stab them in the throat.
There were a couple of lamberginies(sp) and a Mercedes parked in a row. He kicked them all and ran his shopping cart into one.
He was terrorizing everyone.
People called the cops and were following him to give them directions.
He turned down 4th toward downtown.
All of a sudden, 4 police vans showed up with sirens and lights going. He was about a block from 4th and 17th when the cops cornered him and took him down. They shut off the southbound lane.
What a time for this to happen. I’m sure you all know what it’s like on the Red Mile on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
In a way I feel for the guy. Maybe he was on drugs or just simply reached a breaking point from another day of hopelessness that comes with living on the street.