A 61-year-old B.C. man facing charges of aggravated assault, assault, uttering threats and dangerous vehicle operation in connection with a violent gas station attack June 1 appeared in Vancouver provincial court June 2.
Leslie Dale Chudek appeared before Judge Gregory Rideout.
The incident happened around 6:30 a.m. June 1 at a gas station located at 3502 East Hastings St.
The VPD said the incident started when a man used his car to ram a pedestrian on the gas station's property.
"He then got out of the car, and allegedly chased several people while holding a knife and a machete," the VPD said in a news release. "He reportedly punched a passerby, then turned his attention back to the pedestrian, stabbing him on the neck and back."
Police arrived as the suspect allegedly tried to steal a motorbike parked near the gas station's exit.
The stabbing victim was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The man who was punched was treated on scene.
Chudek, a bearded, stocky man with shoulder-length hair appeared disoriented during Thursday's court appearance. Rideout asked him a few questions about his understanding of the roles of the judge and Crown and defence lawyers.
Chudek responded with a diatribe about the judicial system being corrupt.
"The police, they've been setting me up," he said.
"I've got a bump on my head," he added. "They haven't taken me to hospital."
Chudek, who does not yet have a lawyer, remains in custody and is being sent for a medical assessment.
He's charged with aggravated assault of Leonard Michael James Macdonald, assault of Connor Willem Schuchard, uttering threats of death or bodily harm to Schuchard and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
As Rideout began to read the charges to him, Chudek said, "I have no idea who they are."
Chudek is due back in court June 3.
Footage was shared on social media before being deleted. In the video, a man can be seen walking around the pumps with what appears to be a knife and a machete in his hands. Multiple voices can be heard, including a man yelling in pain.
The man with the weapons moves towards others, appearing to threaten them. The people quickly fled.
With no one nearby, he got on a motorbike as if preparing to drive away. He then lay on the ground, spread out. A moment later, police officers are seen approaching him.
The video also showed two people on the ground. One, who appears to be male, is holding his head. Another is laying on the ground with people attending to him. The person shooting the video said one man was stabbed.
The footage showed what appeared to be a long kitchen knife while the other is a longer blade with a significant curve at the end.
VPD Const. Tania Visintin said the attack appeared unprovoked and without motive. The victims and the suspect did not know each other.
Police note the same vehicle fled police earlier on June 1 after a cruiser was rammed.
With files from Alanna Kelly and Brendan Kergin
