Mounties from two Shuswap detachments teamed up to arrest a man after a "disturbing" bear spray attack on a senior citizen in Sicamous.
On July 24 at 1 p.m., Sicamous RCMP were informed of a disturbance on Eagle Pass Way near Parkview Mall.
“Attending officers located a 76-year-old man who had been bear sprayed by an unknown man who fled on foot across Paradise Avenue in the trail system,” said Sgt. Murray McNeil of the Sicamous RCMP. “The man was described as having a very distinctive tattoo which covered the left side of his face.”
Salmon Arm RCMP who were listening to the report came to Sicamous to help find the alleged assailant.
A Salmon Arm police officer spotted and arrested a man who matched the description of the attacker as he was walking on Highway 1 west of Sicamous.
“Police determined the senior had parked his vehicle at the mall on Parkview Street when he saw someone leaning in the open window of his parked car,” McNeil said. “The man asked the man to leave his truck alone at which point he was bear sprayed.”
Benjamin Blundell, 36, with no fixed address was arrested and transported to Salmon Arm for a court appearance.
“This is a senseless act of violence committed against a vulnerable senior who was simply going about their business,” McNeil said. “The extremely cowardly act of attacking a senior citizen was disturbing to even the experienced police officers who attended the call.”
Blundell was held in custody in Salmon Arm and is scheduled for a September court appearance on one charge of assault with a weapon.
