By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative/Penticton Herald

The stepfather of the man who was viciously assaulted outside a Penticton restaurant and sent to hospital with brain injuries is livid that the suspect arrested and charged with assault Monday evening was again walking free by Tuesday morning.

Steve Zeiler is also very upset at a press release issued by the Penticton RCMP Tuesday morning as it claimed the injuries his son suffered were B次元官网网址渘on-life-threatening.B次元官网网址�

Zeiler noted his stepson, Vincent Florence, 28, suffered bleeding on the brain and had to be transferred for emergency surgery from Penticton Regional Hospital to Kelowna General Hospital because doctors were so worried about his condition following the assault.

The press release stated: B次元官网网址淥n Dec. 22, shortly before 10:30 p.m., Penticton RCMP were called to a restaurant in the 2400 block of Skaha Lake Road, for an alleged assault.

B次元官网网址淭he investigation revealed that a 28-year-old man had been assaulted, resulting in serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

B次元官网网址淭he suspect was released on a police undertaking with conditions. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with the RCMP having recommended criminal charges to the BC Prosecution Service.

B次元官网网址淪hould anyone have information about this incident, theyB次元官网网址檙e asked to contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300.B次元官网网址�

The man who has been arrested is almost twice the size of his stepson and it enrages him that heB次元官网网址檚 been released on conditions within hours following his arrest, said Zeiler.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 disappointed that this guy is out of jail obviously,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 also disappointed that the press release that stated B次元官网网址榥on life-threatening injuriesB次元官网网址�. I donB次元官网网址檛 know how much emergency brain surgery could be non life-threatening.B次元官网网址�

Zeiler said heB次元官网网址檚 been given the name of the individual who has been charged with assaulting his stepson.

The Herald has decided to not release the name until he makes his first court appearance.

Considering the physical harm caused to his stepson, Zeiler said the common assault charge is also upsetting and hopes a more serious charge is considered by the Crown in the future.

B次元官网网址淵ou spend more time sitting in the drunk tank in Penticton or any court system in this country than you do for a serious incident like this where my stepson could have been killed,B次元官网网址� he said.

He is close friends with a high-profile Penticton lawyer, who used to work as a Crown prosecutor in Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淪he told me that if she was handling this case in Vancouver when she was working for the Crown, she would have charged him with attempted murder,B次元官网网址� said Zeiler.

HeB次元官网网址檚 been told by police the man charged was released with conditions and will remain free until a scheduled court appearance in May.

This only adds to the anger and frustration being felt by himself, his stepson, his entire family and a large group of supporters, said Zeiler.

B次元官网网址淰incent is terrified of this guy and you canB次元官网网址檛 really blame him,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a whole town that basically knows this guyB次元官网网址檚 name. Everybody knows who it is and they canB次元官网网址檛 believe heB次元官网网址檚 being released back into society until May.

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem like anybody is taking this seriously anymore. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what it is. ItB次元官网网址檚 a revolving door in our court system. ItB次元官网网址檚 disgusting.B次元官网网址�

Zeiler said he phoned the RCMP Monday evening after other people contacted him to inform him an arrest has been made.

B次元官网网址淭he police actually phoned other people that we know before they phoned the family,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey never even phoned us directly that they had arrested anybody. IB次元官网网址檓 the one who had to phone them because somebody phoned me and told me that they had made an arrest. They didnB次元官网网址檛 bother phoning us. They didnB次元官网网址檛 phone us at all.

B次元官网网址淚 phoned there last night (Monday) and I didnB次元官网网址檛 get a phone call back. ThatB次元官网网址檚 unacceptable.B次元官网网址�

Zeiler said it was members of the Clean Streets Penticton Facebook group that played a significant role in gathering information leading to the arrest.

Clean Streets Penticton is a group of local residents who have signed up to a Facebook group and formed committees where citizens patrol neighbourhoods to try and improve public safety in and around Penticton.

On their Facebook page, it states: B次元官网网址淭he goal of this community group is to reduce the impacts of crime, violence and antisocial activity by providing support, information and assistance to any community members that request it. It is a secure forum to share information and decrease vulnerability through facilitation of connection to a supportive neighborhood organization.B次元官网网址�

Zeiler said heB次元官网网址檚 very thankful to anyone who may have played a role leading to an arrest in his stepsonB次元官网网址檚 case.

B次元官网网址淚t was the Clean Streets Penticton people who found him,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey were the ones who found him and phoned the police to notify him where he was. They caught him right near where the assault happened.B次元官网网址�

His stepson was released from hospital on Sunday and is feeling better, but he has a long road ahead of him to make a full recovery, he said.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 still got really bad headaches,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 getting migraines. He canB次元官网网址檛 really do a lot. We take him outside the house for 10 minutes or so, so he can get some fresh air.

B次元官网网址淲e have family staying with him all the time right now. The hospital said to not leave him alone and keep a close eye on him for a little bit (longer). We canB次元官网网址檛 risk having him pass out with no one there.B次元官网网址�

According to his stepfather, Vincent was cold-cocked by an unknown man when he was leaving the restaurant, after making a purchase. After being punched, he hit his head on the ground and suffered two brain bleeds.

The assailant was accompanied by a woman, who Vincent recognized. She allegedly stole his wallet and keys after the assault, he said.

Vincent was sent to Penticton Regional Hospital, but immediately rushed to Kelowna where they have brain specialists on site.

He holds down two part-time jobs B次元官网网址� ClancyB次元官网网址檚 Liquor Store on Martin Street and the Barking Parrot at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

B次元官网网址淰incent is much loved,B次元官网网址� said Zeiler. B次元官网网址淗e also works part-time at the Barking Parrot (pub) and theyB次元官网网址檙e devastated by whatB次元官网网址檚 happened. `They canB次元官网网址檛 do this to our Vinnie,B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e saying. VincentB次元官网网址檚 the kind of young guy that if someone had instead come up to him and said, `can you buy me 12 beer?,B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檇 probably say `sureB次元官网网址� and do it for them.B次元官网网址�

Zeiler and VincentB次元官网网址檚 mother first learned of the assault at 2:30 a.m. on Monday and immediately rushed to Kelowna.

It was a lousy Christmas for the family, but they remain optimistic.

ItB次元官网网址檚 anticipated he will be off work for up to six months. The family is unsure as to when heB次元官网网址檒l be able to come home.

VincentB次元官网网址檚 sister Victoria Florence set up a GoFundMe page to help cover his loss of wages. The page was at $9,800 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Zeiler praised the medical system B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渢hey did such an amazing jobB次元官网网址� with his stepson. B次元官网网址淭he doctors, nurses, ambulance staffB次元官网网址� all 100 per cent professionals.B次元官网网址�