Strathcona sexual assault victim in hospital, man arrested

A woman was brutally sexually assaultedin Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon, and police now have a 25-year-old man in custody.

According to Vancouver police,the man barged into the woman's house in the800 block of Union Streetjust after noon, tied her up and sexually assaulted her. They allege he was armed with a weapon.

Another man heard the woman'sscreams and intervened, getting into a fight with the alleged assailant. Several other people rushed to the aid of the woman, the strugglespilled out onto the street, andtheyheld the assailant until police arrived.

Dog walkerAmberRitchiewitnessedthe assault.

"It looked like something out of a horror movie," she said.

"She [the victim] was covered in blood. I'm pretty traumatized. I'm sure it will haunt me for a while. It was a real,brutal, nasty, rape scene."

Police say the woman was rushed to hospital and suffered "significant" but not life-threatening injuries.

While police discourage witnesses from intervening, they described the man who rushed to the woman's aid as a "hero" and a Good Samaritan.

Plans are now in the works for a prayer walk for the womanas well as recognition for those who helped her.

"As a small token we just started a little coffee fund because we're all Union Market locals and thought at least we can honour them in some way but Ithink ultimately we're all pushing towards doing something more meaningful for the victim."

Attacker was stranger, police say

According to Cost. Brian Montague, the alleged attacker did not know the woman.

"It appears random," he said. "It is a stranger attack, and there's nothing to suggest this is targeted at all."

Montague said the assailant was armed with a weapon when he entered the woman's house.

"Minding your own business, not doing anything wrong, and a stranger enters your home, you can't do anything as a victim to prevent that," he said.

"Thankfully, there werepeople nearby. She did the right thing, she fought and screamed, drew the attentionof somebody else."

Police are recommending several charges against the man in custody, who they say has a criminal record outside of B.C.There is a warrant out for his arrest from London, Ont,. for failing to comply with a probation order.

Police said he recently moved to Vancouver and that they have had previouscontact with him.