Bible group called 911 about man, later arrested in ramming of Vancouver arena
VANCOUVER - Vancouver police say the suspect in a vehicle ramming at the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night had been the subject of a 911 call earlier that day from a Bible study group.
Sgt. Steve Addison says the man was reportedly acting erratically at the church, but he left before officers encountered him.
Addison says the 30-year-old Vancouver man had no prior interactions with local authorities on either criminal or mental health grounds.
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The man was detained after a BMW sedan crashed into the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver during a Cirque du Soleil show at around 8 p.m. Thursday.
No one was injured in the incident, with Addison calling it a 'miracle' given the number of people inside and outside the arena at the time.
Addison says the man is being held under the Mental Health Act and it's believed he was suffering a 'significant' crisis when the ramming happened.
Police are not identifying him because he has not been criminally charged.
The incident came 40 days after the Lapu Lapu Day Festival attack, also in East Vancouver, where an SUV plowed through a crowd and killed 11 while injuring scores of others.
Addison said there was no evidence the latest ramming was linked to terrorism or copied the Lapu Lapu festival attack, but police understand that the public may be fearful given similarities between the two incidents.
He said that is why police are ensuring safety at events this weekend' — including the BC Lions' season opener on Saturday and the Italian Day festival on Commercial Drive — by deploying more than 300 additional officers as well as vehicle barriers.
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The barriers were seen being installed on Commercial Drive on Friday ahead of the Italian cultural festival.
'We fully understand that as soon as this vehicle struck the Coliseum last night, the first thing that was going to be in people's mind was a flashback to what happened 40 days earlier at the Filipino Lapu Lapu festival,' Addison said. 'That's the natural reaction.
'If I have a message for people, it's please know that we're doing everything that we can, in our power, working with our partners to mitigate risks, to make this summer as safe as possible.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
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The Province
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UPDATE: Man arrested in Pacific Coliseum ramming was having 'religious delusions': VPD
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Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Earlier on Thursday, Vancouver police received a 911 call reporting erratic behaviour by the 30-year-old Vancouver man, who had been at a Bible study group at a church. 'He left after that 911 call was made and we did not encounter him until he crashed that vehicle into the Coliseum,' said VPD spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison at a news conference on Friday. Witnesses told police they saw the man's vehicle at a parking lot on the north side of the Coliseum. 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Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison acknowledged some people may be feeling anxious about public safety given Thursday night's car-ramming incident at the Pacific Coliseum during a Cirque du Soleil show Crowds fill the street during Italian Day on Commercial Drive in 2019. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / PNG The Vancouver Police Department said it is boosting the number of officers in the city this weekend, including at the B.C. Lions kickoff game on Saturday and at Italian Day on Commercial Drive on Sunday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison acknowledged some people may be feeling anxious about public safety given Thursday night's car-ramming incident at the Pacific Coliseum during a Cirque du Soleil show and the vehicle attack at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in east Vancouver on April 26 that killed 11. But he reassured people that police will be out in full force this with an additional 300 officers deployed from Friday to Sunday. 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