Penticton veteran attacked while on mobility scooter recovering well, ‘in good spirits’

Penticton, B.C.’s politician is reassuring residents of organization information successful nan aftermath of a late-night onslaught connected an 82-year-old veteran.

“We understand that immoderate group consciousness a small perturbed by what has happened but we are doing everything that we tin to thief nan state to make Penticton a safer place,” Mayor Julius Bloomfield said Friday.

He added that he’d been to spot nan unfortunate of nan attack, Jim DeMarce, and he is connected nan mend. DeMarce was headed location from nan Penticton Legion 1 nighttime erstwhile he asked 4 group to move disconnected nan sidewalk, and he was assaulted.

“I went and checked connected him a mates of days agone and he is recovering well, and he’s successful bully spirits, arsenic he usually is,” Bloomfield said.

DeMarce has reported nan onslaught he endured but he said he was loath to do so.

He referred to what galore are calling a “catch and release” strategy arsenic nan logic for his apprehension. He said group spot suspects arrested and past released soon thereafter, seemingly undeterred by penalties that are ne'er forthcoming. It’s an rumor blamed connected a tribunal backlog.

“We admit Mr. DeMarce’s position connected drawback and merchandise and wouldn’t disagree pinch that,” Bloomfield said.

“I cognize that we are concerned astir nan number of cases earlier nan courts and successful provincial courts successful Penticton. And we are advocating for a amended strategy and a amended attack wrong nan tribunal strategy for dealing pinch immoderate of these problems.”

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That said, Bloomfield noted that crime is trending successful nan correct direction, according to caller figures from Statistics Canada. Notably, nan Crime Severity Index from StatCan pegged section crime astatine 232.58 successful 2019, and that number had fallen to 180.38 successful 2023.

“There’s nary metallic slug to lick these problems of (homelessness and addiction)…. Crimes are a denotation of nan issue,” Bloomfield said. “If we want to trim nan symptoms, we person to woody pinch nan rumor and that is what we’re moving towards pinch nan province.”

Supt. Beth McAndie added that she is alert of nan catch-and-release concerns but reporting is still cardinal successful addressing safety.

“That’s thing I’ve heard earlier and my consequence to that is we can’t extremity reporting these types of incidences because we don’t deliberation they’re going to spell anywhere,” she said.

Incidents of this benignant don’t hap regularly and McAndie said nan constabulary are committed to making judge nan organization feels safe and supported pinch their section RCMP.