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 B次元官网网址� 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, 6B次元官网网址�1, 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.

B次元官网网址淟ike a curdling scream,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hen the cops looked at me and said, B次元官网网址楢renB次元官网网址檛 you the same guy that was just dealing with something else up the road there?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Dey received his award this past week.

B次元官网网址淥f 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,B次元官网网址� reads the certificate.

B次元官网网址淔or 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.B次元官网网址�

Dey has a daughter near the same age as the female victim, whoB次元官网网址檚 about 25. When he heard her screams, he said his fatherly instincts took over.

B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 even a hesitation. I just saw that girl and the look on her face and that guy B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� he added.

B次元官网网址淚 would do it again in a heartbeat.B次元官网网址�

The girlB次元官网网址檚 family reached out to Dey to say thank you. Her father gave him a hug.

DeyB次元官网网址檚 wife Michelle couldnB次元官网网址檛 be more proud of him.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 totally in his nature,B次元官网网址� she said of his heroics, although heB次元官网网址檚 not usually a physical guy.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 not a hot-head.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淵ou would hope that somebody would be there for you or your daughter if they needed help.B次元官网网址�

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