Police say a man was attacked with a rubber mallet and robbed in downtown Vancouver early Tuesday morning. The Vancouver Police Department said officers were called to the area of West Cordova and Richards streets with reports of a hammer assault at around 1:42 a.m. Police said they found a 35-year-old man with head bruising, injuries to his hands and a bloody nose. With the help of a local security guard who provided CCTV surveillance video, the VPD said officers found and arrested two men who matched those seen in the video. “During a search, police discovered a rubber mallet and the victim’s car key fob in the possession of one of the suspects,” the VPD detailed in a statement. “Charges of robbery have been forwarded to Crown counsel.” The VPD told CTV News that an ambulance was called for the victim, but he declined assistance and left the scene in a cab. When asked why the two men weren’t charged with assault as well, the VPD said that “because the alleged assault is linked directly to the stolen car key fobs, it is encompassed within the recommended robbery charge.” The suspects and victim did not appear to know each other either, police confirmed. The VPD said both men are scheduled to be released from custody on Tuesday “with protective conditions while police continue their investigation.”
