Victoria Police say they have arrested a man after he committed a violent attack on a 72-year-old woman in downtown Victoria, sending her to hospital.
Police say they were called to the 1100-block of Douglas Street at around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 20 for a report that a man was striking a woman on the sidewalk.
Police immediately headed to the area and found a 72-year-old woman who had been attacked by an unknown suspect who had already fled the area.
After further investigation, police learned that the man had reportedly asked the woman for money, but she declined. After rejecting the man, he pushed her to the ground and struck her several times.
Police note that a bystander reportedly intervened while the assault was happening in order to stop the attack.
B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics attended and transported the victim to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
VicPD officers were able to identify the suspect in the incident and located him a few hours later.
The man was arrested in the 900-block of View Street at around 4 p.m. on Friday. The man was taken into police custody and later released with a court date and conditions.
Police say the suspect, a 42-year-old Victoria man, faces recommended charges of assault.
The file remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is being asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654.
To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Graham Cox
