Residents of a Maple Ridge, British Columbia, neighborhood are shaken after witnessing a brutal assault on one of their neighbors while he was out walking his dog on a Saturday night.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when the 47-year-old man was walking his chihuahua close to Seklirk Avenue and 224 Street.
Witnesses reported that three men assaulted the victim using a baseball bat, causing him to be injured and rush back to his apartment two blocks away along with his small dog.
“He was bleeding from a head wound and we immediately called 911,” stated Sidney Johnson, the manager of the apartment building where the victim resides.
“He was struck four times with a baseball bat by three individuals. The amount of blood indicated a severe injury,” he added.
The man received medical treatment at Royal Columbian Hospital and is presently recuperating at his residence. He expressed haziness about the incident and mentioned experiencing dizziness but expressed willingness to provide details once he feels better.
The assault has caused concern among neighbors who feel that crime and disorder in the area have been increasing in recent times.
“I feel unsafe even taking out the trash. Walking with a friend and her children doesn’t feel safe anymore,” shared Tina McFarlane, a resident of the same apartment complex.
“It seems like our concerns are being ignored. The police are trying their best, but the situation seems overwhelming,” she added.
Johnson noted a decline in the neighborhood’s conditions since the opening of a homeless outreach facility called The HUB a few blocks away.
“The situation has worsened significantly,” he remarked.
“Over the past five years, there have been drug activities and verbal abuse towards tenants — the area has been on high alert,” he added.
The Ridge Meadows RCMP have confirmed that they responded to the assault incident and are currently conducting an investigation.
“Officers are gathering information to understand the situation better, but it seems to involve known individuals and appears to be an isolated incident,” stated an RCMP spokesperson via email.
