FILE PHOTO
Image Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
August 16, 2022 - 1:43 PM
A man is recovering in hospital after he was slashed across the face with a box cutter in downtown Kelowna early this morning.
Officers and paramedics arrived in the 300 block of Queensway, a couple blocks north of Bernard Avenue near the waterfront, at around 1:55 a.m. today, Aug. 16, to find a man bleeding heavily from a deep slash that damaged an artery.
RCMP say in a media release the victim was uncooperative. He refused to identify himself or provide a statement to officers.
He was taken to Kelowna General Hospital and will require more surgery today but he’s expected to survive.
Officers followed a blood trail to the public washroom in Stewart Park where the assault happened. Video surveillance in the area helped police identify one of the two suspects, who turns out to be known to police.
One got away on a bicycle and the other was seen leaving in a vehicle.
The suspect known to police was spotted a few blocks away and arrested.
RCMP say this was an isolated assault and “there are no concerns for the safety of others.”
“This once again demonstrates the challenges officers face when dealing with street entrenched individuals who suffer with mental health and substance use challenges,” Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Const. Mike Della-Paolera said in the release.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help to identify the second suspect.
If you witnessed the assault, or have dash cam video from around 1:55 a.m., Aug. 16, you are asked to either call the Kelowna RCMP non- emergency number at 250-762-3300 or you can report anonymously with the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-4477.
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