Surrey man faces assault charge linked to stabbing in White Rock

A Surrey man has been charged in one of two recent White Rock stabbings.

Dimitri Nelson Hyacinth, a 28-year-old Surrey man, is charged in the April 21 aggravated assault of Jatinder Singh.

An investigation into a second stabbing on April 23, which was fatal, continues.

Both attacks appeared to be random and took place at the White Rock pier, sending fear into the community.

On April 21, Singh was sitting on a bench along the boardwalk with his wife when he was stabbed in the neck, apparently at random. He is recovering at home.

Two days later, Kulwinder Singh Sohi was sitting with a friend at the base of the White Rock pier when he was fatally stabbed by a stranger.

Earlier this week, investigators announced they had arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal stabbing. At the time, police acknowledged

This is a dynamic and ongoing case. The investigation into the homicide of Mr. Sohi remains active

similarities between the two stabbings but did not confirm whether the same suspect was wanted in both cases.

On Tuesday, police announced Hyacinth had been charged in the non-fatal stabbing. No charges have been announced in the April 23 stabbing that left Sohi dead.

“This is a dynamic and ongoing case. The investigation into the homicide of Mr. Sohi remains active,” Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said on Tuesday.

After the attacks, the Surrey Crime Prevention Society stopped sending youth volunteers to the seaside community. Society volunteers — a majority of whom are of South Asian descent — typically canvassed the area for speeding motorists, graffiti and licence plates of vehicles listed as stolen.

News of the charge against Hyacinth come the same day as a public safety town hall hosted by the White Rock RCMP was set to take place.