Shocked residents of downtown Maple Ridge are expressing their anger at the assailants, and sympathy for the victim, after an attack on a senior citizen that sent the man to hospital.
According to residents of Maple Court Apartments, a couple assaulted a senior citizen with a pool cue, leaving him with a concussion, fractures on his hands and elbow, and lacerations that required numerous stitches. The attackers stole their victim's wallet and left the scene, and he was taken to hospital by ambulance. The incident occurred on Dec. 11.
The resident of Maple Court, which is at the corner of 224th Street and 121 Avenue, was on his way to the neighbouring Seniors Activity Centre to play pool, at about 11:15 a.m. He encountered the pair loitering around the apartment building, and there was an altercation. Residents who spoke with The News anonymously said the man and woman had been seen at the site before, and there have been ongoing issues with the street population trespassing at the Maple Court property.
Ridge Meadows RCMP said they quickly apprehended suspects, who were known to police, and who were taken into custody. The victim's wallet has been returned, according to neighbours. Police said he has been released from hospital.
Both suspects have been charged with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, and robbery. They have appeared in Port Coquitlam Provincial court.
The man has a criminal history that includes an assault conviction from 2017, a conviction for theft from 2018, and charges of breach of probation and threatening from last year.
The woman was found guilty of theft in 2018 and 2015, obstructing or resisting an officer in 2015, trafficking in 2017, and was charged with assault and mischief last year.
She was born in 1986, and he in 1988, according to court records.
Friends of the victim and others have been commenting on Maple Ridge's neighbourhood social media pages, saying they don't feel safe, expressing worry for loved ones in the area, opining that the justice system fails to stop repeat offenders, and calling for increased security.
"I saw all the cops on my street and I am sad and disturbed this happened," remarked one woman in a Facebook post. "I myself was assaulted in Maple Ridge, by a complete stranger. Also came face to face with a man dressed in black in our yard. He threatened my neighbour, myself and my dog with pepper spray. All in the last year. We need regular patrols and more police presence.
"I hope he makes a full recovery," she added. "In my experience, the mental healing and the PTSD is harder to heal from."
"Is there a neighbourhood watch?" asked a man in a social media post. "Maybe there should be. If not seniors themselves, maybe others who live in the neighbourhood. Some of the buildings don't have the same security. Maybe we need a patrol or watch to ensure bad elements aren't setting up shop in the garages or stairwells?"
There is a Citizens on Patrol volunteer team in Maple Ridge, which operates under the auspices of the RCMP.
Ridge Meadows RCMP have asked any witnesses of this incident, who have not yet spoken to police, to please contact the Ridge Meadows RCMP directly at 604-463-6251 and refer to file 2024-25066.
