Saanich Police are actively seeking to identify and arrest an unidentified man who argued with two women late Sunday afternoon before pushing and kicking them both off a small dock and into the Gorge Waterway.
Neither women were seriously injured but they were very cold and shaken up when treated by paramedics. They refused to provide much information to police, however additional interview attempts will be made. Saanich Police are working on several leads related to this serious assault investigation.
The assaults happened shortly before 5 p.m Sunday afternoon near the Tillicum Road bridge connecting Saanich and Esquimalt.
The man approached a 53 year old mother and her 31 year old daughter on a small dock. He tried to get a cigarette from them or trade them a beer for a cigarette. A heated argument ensued between the man and the younger woman, who reports that a volley of insults were exchanged between the two.
The man is believed to have grabbed the younger woman by the arms and he shoved her into the water. He briefly held her head under the water. Her mother intervened but the man then kicked her from behind into the water. He continued the series of assaults by throwing a beer can and striking the first woman in the head, causing her to suffer a minor head injury.
The men left on foot through nearby trails. He was last seen heading east along Gorge Road West. Saanich Police and Victoria Police investigated on both sides of the water. A Vic PD marine unit canvassed the occupants of nearby boats.
The man is described as Caucasian and about 50 years old with a stocky build. He is about 5’8″ and 235 lbs, with silver-brown hair in a mullet style and a brown goatee. He was wearing a greenish Hawaiian shirt and green khaki-style pants. Police are hoping for more cooperation from the victims and ask the public to provide any tips to police or CrimeStoppers that can to help identify this man.
S/Sgt. Scott Treble