Mike Pearson knew something was wrong when he didn’t see a man he knew as Tom where he normally hangs out in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood, not far from all his worldly possessions.
“Number 1, he didn’t like leaving his stash of gear at all,” said Pearson of Tom’s three or four grocery carts full of stuff lashed together and covered in tarps.
Pearson and his wife, Lorna Seifried, were concerned when Tom didn’t return to his recognizable enclave at the Georgia Street pedestrian underpass near Lost Lagoon.
Along with about a dozen others in the neighbourhood who had been bringing him hot meals — McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets were a favourite — and non-perishables or warm socks over the years, the couple feared the worst.
“I have to emphasize that he’s a part of this community,” said Pearson.
Seifried filed a missing person’s report with Vancouver police, and that is when they learned he had been assaulted and hospitalized. It was a month ago, and they haven’t seen him since.
“On Nov. 21, at about 9 p.m., a 56-year-old man who lives in the park was assaulted by two people,” confirmed Vancouver police Sgt. Steve Addison in an email. “The victim sustained serious injuries.”
The man is still in hospital and police have spoken to him to find out what happened to him that night, he said.
“That process has been slowed due to the nature of his injuries, but it is ongoing,” he said.
Vancouver police’s major crime section is investigating, but no arrests have been made and officers don’t know of any motive, said Addison.
It is police policy not to name crime victims, so he wouldn’t confirm a name.
Pearson said he and others in the community have been trying to find where Tom, who is also known as Jimmy by some, is being treated so they can visit him.
On Wednesday, Pearson had Tom’s belongings put into storage by Stanley Park rangers so he could retrieve them when he is able.
Pearson didn’t know much about Tom, except that he had lived on the street for at least the past 15 years. He didn’t ask, and Tom didn’t tell.
He said Tom never asked for money, but would request Pearson and others bring him a meal or some groceries from Safeway.
Pearson said Tom in return would offer some simple Chinese medical advice, like the importance of stretching.
“I always considered it a fair exchange,” said Pearson.
Merrell Gerber, who said he became alarmed when he had gone down to the tunnel to visit Tom and found him missing, would like to visit in hospital and “let him know there are people who care about him.”
“He is a kind and gentle man who has been around this area for many years and who has harmed no one,” he said in an email.
Years ago, he would sound a gong, since stolen, on his cart when anyone passed by and “it felt like a blessing,” Gerber said.
Gerber also said Tom feared being attacked and said he slept in a helmet for protection. Tom at one point had a pit bull, also for protection, but Gerber said it was taken away for being too aggressive.
The only time Tom got angry, years ago, was when people took his photo without permission, he said.
“Please let the public know that he was a cherished part of our community,” he said.
Neil Fernyhough of the citizen volunteer West End Coal Harbour community policing centre, responsible for local crime and safety education and outreach, said Tom has never come into the centre for help, but volunteers have done “wellness checks,” offering him emergency blankets and safety kits over the years.
Fernyhough called Tom “gentle and quiet” and said that he isn’t the type to incite violence or instigate a conflict.
Fernyhough said he has been a regular part of about 12 to 18 unhoused members of the community, some of whom come and go.
The lack of any suspects or arrests makes the community’s other unhoused members vulnerable, Fernyhough said.
Neither he nor Pearson had any information about the police investigation, what was being done to find the suspects or safeguard others who live on the street.
“Although the motive is not known, we do not have any information to suggest anyone else is in immediate danger,” said Addison.
