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B.C. man gets award for thwarting theft, sexual assault 91Ƶ all in 10 minutes

Karl Dey helped the VPD take down a violent sex offender
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Karl Dey received a Certificate of Merit from the Vancouver Police Board on Wednesday. (Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS)

A Maple Ridge man was in the right place at the right time twice within 10 minutes, thwarting a theft and a sexual assault.

On Wednesday, he was one of 22 recipients of a Certificate of Merit from the Vancouver Police Board 91Ƶ its highest award for civilian bravery.

Karl Dey was making his rounds in downtown Vancouver delivering water for Mountain Springs Water Company on Dec. 11, 2017 near the intersection of Homer Street and Cordova Street in Gastown.

That morning, he entered a shoe shop and went to the back room with the person working to see how many bottles were needed. When he returned to the showroom, he noticed a man standing by the door with something under his jacket. When the man ran, Dey gave chase. Turning a corner, there was an unmarked police car passing at the moment and a female officer asked Dey if the man stole something. When Dey said yes, the officer jumped out of the car to give chase, as well.

They tackled the man on the street.

It turns out the man had stolen a backpack worth around $600.

Dey, 691Ƶ1, 198 pounds, was asked to wait by his truck to make a statement to police. So he finished his delivery, then just as he went back to his truck to wait, he heard a woman scream.

91ƵLike a curdling scream,91Ƶ said Dey.

He looked in the direction of the scream and ran across the street to a clothing store. He saw a man pulling his pants up and a woman yelling that he tried to rape her. Dey told the man to get on the ground. But the man challenged Dey before running out a back door on to Water Street.

Dey again chased and tackled the man near the steam clock by Cambie Street. He held the suspect with the help of another man until police arrived.

91ƵThen the cops looked at me and said, 91ƵAren91Ƶt you the same guy that was just dealing with something else up the road there?91Ƶ91Ƶ

Dey received his award this past week.

91ƵOf the many people who have received an Award of Merit over the years, never before has a recipient committed two deserving acts in such a short space of time,91Ƶ reads the certificate.

91ƵFor leaping into action, not once, but twice, and ensuring a prolific property crime offender and a violent sex offender were arrested by police, despite a risk to his own safety.91Ƶ

Dey has a daughter near the same age as the female victim, who91Ƶs about 25. When he heard her screams, he said his fatherly instincts took over.

91ƵIt wasn91Ƶt even a hesitation. I just saw that girl and the look on her face and that guy 91Ƶ 91Ƶ he added.

91ƵI would do it again in a heartbeat.91Ƶ

The girl91Ƶs family reached out to Dey to say thank you. Her father gave him a hug.

Dey91Ƶs wife Michelle couldn91Ƶt be more proud of him.

91ƵThat91Ƶs totally in his nature,91Ƶ she said of his heroics, although he91Ƶs not usually a physical guy.

91ƵHe91Ƶs not a hot-head.91Ƶ

When he first texted her about what happened, she thought he was joking.

91ƵYou would hope that somebody would be there for you or your daughter if they needed help.91Ƶ

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The Certificate of Merit that Karl Day received from the Vancouver Police Board on Wednesday. (Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS)


Colleen Flanagan

About the Author: Colleen Flanagan

I got my start with Black Press Media in 2003 as a photojournalist.
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