Feces smeared on the front glass door of Javawocky Coffee House was the alleged work of prolific offender Aiden David Tye, following a confrontation at the cafe on Nanaimo's seawall on Tuesday, Jan. 13. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

Aiden Tye

Prolific Nanaimo offender allegedly assaults coffee shop owner, smears feces on window

Jan 14, 2026 | 2:27 PM

NANAIMO  — Described by a downtown cafe owner as a ticking time bomb, a notorious prolific offender allegedly exploded on downtown Nanaimo’s waterfront. 

Ani Rathore, owner of Javawocky Coffee House on Nanaimo’s Harbourfront Walkway off Front St., provided a graphic account of Aiden David Tye’s alleged behaviour at his business on Tuesday, Jan. 13 during the noon hour. 

Rathore was notified by his concerned employees regarding the presence of a repeat visitor to the shop, prompting Rathore to quickly respond to his business. 

After repeatedly asking the customer to leave, Rathore phoned 911, with Tye responding by allegedly throwing hot coffee in his face. 

Human waste was allegedly smeared from Tye across the windows of the coffee shop on Nanaimo’s waterfront. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

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A minor physical altercation between Rathore and the customer ensured, according to Rathore.  

Outside, Rathore said Tye undressed and exposed his penis to customers in the glass-enclosed cafe, before allegedly defecating on his hands and smearing feces across the cafe’s front door.  

“I couldn’t first picture him being like that, but now seeing him on Tuesday I was glad I kicked him out for good because one of these days I wouldn’t have been around and he would have been like that to my staff, I can’t have that,” Rathore said. 

Tye had been provided free food and coffee at Javawocky Coffee House for several weeks prior, but Rathore told NanaimoNewsNOW he felt Tye’s presence compromised the safety of his staff and customers.   

“As soon as the cops pulled up he just got down on the ground and put his hands behind his back,” Rathore said.  

The 40-year-old Tye has racked up over 170 criminal code convictions since 2005, including about 80 for violent offences, most of which occurred in Nanaimo. 

Tye has an extensive history of spontaneous violence, initiating confrontations with business operators, damaging property, and indecent exposures.  

On multiple occasions, Tye has assaulted correctional officers, which featured heavily into a sentencing hearing covered by NanaimoNewsNOW one year ago. 

Tye’s past crimes included throwing a brick at a pregnant woman in downtown Nanaimo in 2022. 

Rathore said it has been proven over the course of many years that Tye is a danger to himself and the public.  

“Who is it really helping him being out here? This is not a good life that he’s living when he’s out here,” Rathore said. “He’s getting into fights, he’s committed these crimes, he’s going to back to prison and coming back out again…It doesn’t make any sense to me.” 

Ani Rathore, owner of Javawocky Coffee House, was face-to-face with a man alleged to be Aiden Tye during a highly alarming Tuesday, Jan. 13 confrontation. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Mackenzie Dick was working at the cafe when the confrontation between her boss and the disruptive customer escalated. 

Dick was glad Rathore was nearby to help her and her colleague working at the time. 

“It was definitely pretty scary and it was also crazy to see Aiden switch like that. He’s always been so nice to me so I wasn’t expecting it, so when it happened I was like ‘holy crap.’” 

Dick estimated the confrontation lasted about 10 minutes.   

Kevan Shaw, vice president of Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association, said while he wasn’t shocked to hear about Tye’s alleged conduct, the report of what occurred is concerning and frustrating. 

“We’ve got most of the shop owners, coffee shops, restaurants downtown know Aiden Tye, they know what he’s capable of. All of a sudden it starting to rain out can probably set him off. This is a person who needs to be in care,” Shaw said.  

Tye’s mental health and addiction issues, combined with a volatile temper and a lack of fear of going to jail are all significant challenges, he said.  

Shaw stated this is yet another example of the minority anti-social behaviour having significant public impacts.  

“We’re not seeing regular every day, tax-paying, law-abiding folks being taken care of,” Shaw said. “We do not feel safe to walk in our own neighbourhoods, let alone in the downtown of our main streets.” 

Tye remains in custody. 

As a result of the Javawocky Coffee House incident, Tye was charged with assault with a weapon, mischief, committing an indecent act in a public place, indecent exhibition in a public place and breaching a court-ordered probation order.

Tye’s lawyer confirmed he was aware of the new allegations against his client.  

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