TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- A Canadian man suspected of suffering a mental disorder was arrested on Tuesday in southern Taiwan after he harassed a female convenience store clerk, smashed a car, and shoved a police officer.
The 46-year-old suspect, who has previously worked as an English teacher in Taiwan and other Asian countries, arrived in Taiwan on a tourist visa in February and has been living in a daily rental suite in Tainan's Anping District, reported Liberty Times. During this period, he had reportedly been accosting a number of people in the area, including two reports of harassing a Taiwanese female convenience store clerk.
On Sunday (March 31), the Canadian approached the female shop attendant and repeatedly told her that he "needed help." When she asked what he needed, he would sometimes laugh but not respond, while on other occasions, he would say "you know," according to the report.
The 46-year old then stayed in the store and refused to leave. The police were dispatched to the scene several times, but each time the man would pretend that nothing was amiss and officers had no cause to detain him.
Canadian suspect (center) blocking car on Tainan street. (Tainan Police Department photo)
On Monday (April 1), the Canadian began harassing the female clerk for a second day in a row. After she called the police, immigration agents arrived and took him to the local office of the National Immigration Agency (NIA).
Immigration officers assessed that the man may be suffering from a mental illness, but as he had not committed any crimes, they had no reason to deport him from the country.
At midnight on Tuesday (April 2), the man reportedly picked up a motorcycle helmet and used it to bash a car that had been parked by the side of the road. Police received reports of a foreign national obstructing traffic and harassing motorists in the middle of the street.
Canadian suspect in Tainan Police Department. (Tainan Police Department photo)
When five policemen arrived on the scene, the Canadian shoved an officer surnamed Hsu (許) in the chest and allegedly even threatened to strike him, reported UDN. The police officer then doused the 46-year old in the face with pepper spray, causing him to become compliant within seconds.
The man was then held in detention for one night. When the owner of the car was informed by police of the vandalism against his vehicle, he declined to press charges.
When police questioned him about his behavior, he would repeatedly say "I won't tell you" or "I am from Canada, you know." After questioning, police transferred him to the Tainan District Prosecutor's Office on charges of Interference with Public Functions (妨害公務罪) and the NIA has been contacted to access whether his actions warrant deportation.
