Two charged in separate assaults on Transit police

Two men have been charged and remain in custody following two separate incidents in recent weeks that involved injuries to Transit police officers.

On July 25, two Transit police officers at New Westminster SkyTrain Station spotted two men openly drinking alcohol. When officers approached, one man was co-operative while the other gave a fake name. Officers also spotted a syringe sticking out of the second man’s pocket and when they asked him to remove it, he began to run away. Officers chased the man toward Carnarvon Street and were able to capture him. During the capture, the man allegedly hit one of the officers in the head and face.

A search of the man then found drugs and drug paraphernalia, and it was found that a warrant had been issued for the man for a number of Vancouver-based offences.

Christopher Anton Skender, 34, of no fixed address, is charged. He remains in custody and will reappear in court on Aug. 23.

On Aug. 5 two transit officers at Moody Centre SkyTrain Station spotted two men with beer in their hands on board a train and the pair were told to get off the train.

After checking identification, the officers found that one of the two men was on probation for a Port Coquitlam assault and was breaching two conditions.

When officers began to arrest the man, he began to struggle violently with officers and at one point during the scuffle, he lifted one of the officers off the ground before falling on him and injuring the officer’s right knee. The suspect then kicked the officer in the shoulder.

The officers used pepper spray to subdue the suspect and arrest him. A search of his bag also revealed more liquor.

Dillon Howard Dinwoodie, 25, is now charged. The Port Moody man is known to police and was scheduled to appear in court Friday.