Suspect restrained after attack in park

A man is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a woman and another man who came to her aid, at a West Kelowna park.

The incident played out at the Rotary Dog Park on Gellatly Road Thursday afternoon, with bystanders surrounding an intoxicated man as police arrived.

“Independent witnesses at the scene told police that a verbal exchange between the suspect and his first victim quickly escalated to a physical assault against the woman without warning. Following the attack, the suspect allegedly tossed the victim’s personal belongings into the waters of Okanagan Lake,” said Cpl. Jesse O Donaghey.

“As bystanders began to gather in an effort to prevent the suspect from leaving, the victim called a family member who attended the scene and confronted the suspect to await the arrival of police. It is believed that the suspect proceeded to assault that family member, who then physically restrained the suspect, with the support of bystanders until police could arrive on scene.”

The victims, each from West Kelowna, a woman in her 30’s and a man in his 50’s, sustained non-life threatening injuries during the incident.

The suspect, a 33-year-old man of no-fixed-address who originates from the Ontario area, faces a number of potential charges.

He was held in police custody and is set to make his first appearance in Court on Friday.