New West police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an attempted robbery and assault near the New Westminster SkyTrain station.
Police were called to the 800 block of Carnarvon Street shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17 to assist a man in distress who was pouring milk on his face inside a grocery store. Officers learned the man was the victim of an assault, and moments earlier he had been assaulted with bear spray in an attempted robbery.
A suspect approached the man outside a downtown restaurant and asked him for his jacket before spraying him in the face with bear spray, said a New Westminster Police Department press release.
“The victim was provided aid by New Westminster Fire and Rescue,” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Justine Thom in a news release. “Tips from the public have helped solve a number of violent assaults in past months here in New Westminster, and we’re again asking the public to assist.”
New West police officers searched the area for anyone matching the suspect description but couldn’t find anyone matching that description. If anyone has information about this incident or the suspects involved, they’re asked to file a report with the NWPD by calling 604-525-5411 and referencing file 23-882.
According to the police department, the suspect is described as a tall Indigenous man who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black jacket. He was accompanied by someone described only as an Indigenous female.
Neither of the suspects are known to the victim, said the press release.
