Police say naked man arrested after alleged assault on stranger in B.C.

Police in Port Moody, B.C., arrested a naked man at a popular park after he allegedly assaulted a stranger and armed himself with a knife in a restaurant. 

Const. Sam Zacharias with the Port Moody Police Department said several 911 calls came in about the assault, which allegedly took place at Rocky Point Plaza shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday night. 

"We do occasionally have disorderly type of conduct in the park, but this is certainly far beyond that," Zacharias said.

The naked man allegedly assaulted another man, Zacharias said, then ran into a nearby restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, the man allegedly armed himself with a knife and brandished it in what Zacharias described as "a threatening manner."

Zacharias said police were on the scene within two minutes of the calls. He said officers arrested the suspect nearby without further incident, and no one sustained any serious injuries.

"My understanding is the park was still quite busy even though the sun had gone down, there were still quite a few park-goers in in the vicinity," Zacharias said. 

"That obviously makes this perhaps even more brazen and somewhat more concerning."

He said the 48-year-old man has been charged with assault, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and committing an indecent act in a public place.

Investigators are still determining the man's motivation, Zacharias said, adding that alcohol and mental health challenges may have played a role. 

Zacharias said that police spoke with several witnesses at the time of the incident, but anyone with more information should contact the Port Moody Police Department.