A 20-year-old Richmond man is among the latest to be facing charges for his part in the notorious Stanley Cup riot last year.
The yet-to-be-named suspect is alleged to have joined in the beating of Good Samaritan Robert MacKay as he lay defenceless on the ground, moments after MacKay tried to protect The Bay storefront from getting smashed in.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has recommended charges of participating in a riot and assault against the man. Those charges have been forwarded to the Crown for approval.
According to the VPD, the suspect was drinking at a bar in Richmond during the hockey game, when he decided to join his friends as they headed to downtown Vancouver. In front of The Bay, he watched as MacKay was punched, kicked and knocked to the ground by a group of rioters.
The VPD say that, instead of helping, the suspect decided to join the attack by kicking MacKay in the head while he lay beaten on the ground.
The Integrated Riot Investigation Team has so far recommended charges on 11 of MacKays attackers, and is investigating two others. Only two remain unidentified.
