The North Vancouver RCMP says it’s looking for a suspect after a senior was assaulted at a local park last month.
Officers were called to the Dudley Place Playground along Newmarket Drive around 6:30 p.m. on July 27.
“It’s alleged that a senior who went into a playground was disposing of his dog’s waste and for some reason, his dog’s presence upset a man who was also at the playground. After some exchange of words, the suspect, it’s alleged that he tackled the victim — an 80-year-old senior — from behind and began to assault him,” Const. Mansoor Sahak told 1130 NewsRadio.
Sahak says witnesses then got involved, at which point the suspect “fled from the playground prior to police arrival.”
The suspect was reportedly with a child at the time of the incident. The child was seen on CCTV footage riding away on a bike while the suspect ran behind them.
The pair headed north on Thorncliffe Drive after the assault.
“We’re at a point where we’re releasing this video in hopes to identify the suspect and the only way we can do that is through the public’s help,” said Sahak.
“This man most likely lives in that neighbourhood, or somebody out there knows him. We’re hoping that either witnesses, somebody that recognizes him, will do the right thing, or the suspect himself will do the right thing, call the police, turn himself in, and provide their version of the events so we can have a full and complete investigation into this incident.”
Sahak says the senior was taken to the hospital for his injuries, which were described as minor.
The North Vancouver RCMP is asking anyone with information to call investigators at 604-985-1311 and quote file 24-15071.