The skateboard park in Vernon's Polson Park is seen in this undated image from Google Street View.
Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
July 04, 2023 - 6:00 PM
A Vernon man is recovering from a vicious attack last month that left him with a broken jaw, broken teeth, scars and bruises.
The 29-year-old man was hit repeatedly in the face with a tire iron on 28 Avenue in Vernon around midnight on Friday, June 23.
“It was dark, I couldn't see exactly what it was, my friends say it was a tire iron," he said.
iNFOnews.ca has agreed not to identify the man because he's worried about retribution from his attackers.
The man was with two friends riding rental e-scooters that night when they decided to “go for a rip” around the skate park in Polson Park on their way to a friend’s house, he said. A confrontation flared up with a large group of teenagers.
“They looked around the age of 18 and one of them tried to steal my friend’s beer so he shoved him away and then quite a few in the group started attacking him (my friend) so we left,” he said. “A few of them pursued us and caught up to us. One had a tire iron, hit me in the face with it and broke my jaw.”
The victim said he continued to his friend’s house to “assess the damage” then went to the hospital.
A 29-year-old Vernon man had his jaw broken when he was attacked with a tire iron.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
The attack left the victim with injuries requiring reconstructive surgery using screws and titanium plates. He needs dental work for broken teeth. The ordeal has caused pain and cost him money for dental work along with missed work. He has returned to work and is managing the pain with pills.
“My face was swollen badly for a while afterward,” he said. “Psychologically I’m OK but physically and financially I’m not.”
When asked if he or his friends did anything to provoke the attack, the victim said “my friend pushed one of them away when they tried to steal his beer but that was all, I never touched anyone at any point.”
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The victim and his family are looking for any information related to the incident. The victim was unable to give a description.
“It was dark and hard to see them, I didn't get much of a description but they were fairly young,” he said.
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The victim reported the assault to RCMP.
In an emailed statement to iNFOnews today, July 4, spokesperson Cpl. Tania Finn confirmed an investigation into the attack in underway.
If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they are asked to contact Vernon RCMP Const. Helgerson at 250-545-7171.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
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