An 82-year-old volunteer was punched and spat on when he asked a group of people to move away from some stairs in downtown Nanaimo.
Pat Murphy, a volunteer of 11 years with the Vancouver Island Military Museum, was assaulted Saturday, Nov. 20, by people blocking stairs that connect Cameron Road and Front Street.
The stairs, which incorporate a concrete wall that offers some privacy, have become a hangout for drug users, Murphy said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a standard procedure for me, when I get to the museum in the morning, is to look down those stairs and see how bad it is,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes thereB次元官网网址檚 two or three people. Sometimes thereB次元官网网址檚 six or eight and I usually say to them, B次元官网网址榊ou canB次元官网网址檛 block these stairs, folks. Go find another place to do this, please.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
When Murphy asked a group of about four people to move Saturday morning, one of the group asked for brooms to clean up the area.
B次元官网网址淎s I looked out the window for the next hour, I saw two or three homeless people hauling garbage down to a garbage bucket. They were really getting involved,B次元官网网址� Murphy said.
But as he was leaving the museum for the day shortly before 3 p.m. he said about a dozen people had gathered and were doing drugs and drinking.
B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址楪uys, you canB次元官网网址檛 block these stairs like this. There are people wanting to use them. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to go find some other place to do this crap,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.
Murphy said one of the men was holding a serrated knife and Murphy asked if the man planned to use the knife on him just because he was telling him to move off of the stairs.
B次元官网网址淎s I was in conversation with this guy, one of the other homeless people got up and sucker-punched me in the left side of my face,B次元官网网址� Murphy said. B次元官网网址淚 got a shot back in on him and then somebody came up who was next to him and spit a mouthful of beer or whatever he had on me.B次元官网网址�
By this time a mall security guard who witnessed the altercation was calling 911.
B次元官网网址淪o I knew the police would be on their way. We get incredible response from the RCMP and I could hear the sirens coming in seconds,B次元官网网址� Murphy said. B次元官网网址淗omeless people were gathering up all their possessions, their bags, their drugs, cans of whatever they had and were heading out.B次元官网网址�
Officers checked Murphy for injuries and took statements from him and two witnesses, and Murphy was also able to provide investigators with photos he took of the group.
Murphy said he wasnB次元官网网址檛 seriously injured in the altercation.
B次元官网网址淚 have a bit of a sore jaw, but I used to play hockey. IB次元官网网址檝e had a few fights in my life, you know. You get over it,B次元官网网址� he said.
Murphy said problems related to drug use and vagrancy have been ongoing since the military museum moved into the former Nanaimo Museum building in 2010.
B次元官网网址淚 was very happy to see that the cityB次元官网网址檚 budget was increased to accommodate four new [RCMP] members because downtown sure needs more police attention,B次元官网网址� Murphy said.
Const. Gary OB次元官网网址橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said the investigation is continuing.
B次元官网网址淭his is not acceptable,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橞rien said. B次元官网网址淣obody in our community, especially in the downtown core, should have any fear of being assaulted because theyB次元官网网址檙e simply using a city facility, so we are investigating and we will hold those persons accountable.B次元官网网址�
Police say the suspect was a B次元官网网址渕arginalized street personB次元官网网址� about 20-25 years old, white, thin and about 5-foot-11. He had dark hair with some facial hair and a prominent chin. At the time of the incident he was wearing a ball cap, a grey hoodie and a black jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMPB次元官网网址檚 non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No. 2021-43260.
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