Edmonton senior in hospital after random attack in broad daylight – Edmonton | 24CA News
Jay Woolner has been spending plenty of time on the hospital along with his 86-year-old father. His dad is a retired photographer, and enjoys spending his days strolling in Edmonton’s downtown and river valley taking photos. Sunday morning was no completely different for the senior.
“He was just out there doing his thing,” Woolner mentioned. “He wasn’t hurting anybody. He wasn’t talking to anybody. He was just enjoying a beautiful day.”
Just after 10 a.m. that lovely day turned ugly. Woolner mentioned his dad was moving into his automobile at Jasper Avenue and 97th Street. He was all of the sudden attacked by a person he didn’t know.
“He was pushed down and broke his hip,” Woolner mentioned.
He had a hip substitute Monday. Woolner mentioned his dad was fortunate as a result of there have been two peace officers close by who have been in a position to cease the attacker.
“From what we got from police … he thought dad was a government agent surveilling him.”
Woolner desires the Alberta authorities to vary insurance policies to have the ability to intervene when persons are affected by psychological well being or dependancy points.
“We’ve got to protect our seniors, our children. I live in Fort McMurray. I won’t bring my grandkids here as a place to live because they’re not safe in this city,” Woolner mentioned.
“They cannot defend themselves without putting themselves at risk. But why is it up to them? At some point, policy has to change … The greater good must be protected.”
Public security and emergency providers minister Mike Ellis mentioned there’s no single answer to those complicated points.
It’s not clear what precisely lead as much as this assault however Ellis mentioned crystal meth use is one issue contributing to the violent crimes in Edmonton.
“This is why we have to have the law enforcement community there to provide that protection for people, whether it be at or near the LRT stations or walking the beat in Edmonton,” Ellis mentioned.
Woolner mentioned his dad will heal from his bodily accidents however he’s shaken up. Woolner isn’t certain if his dad will ever really feel protected once more to go downtown or within the river valley to take images.
“I’m angry. This hurt.”
“I have to think in my head what the next steps are, whether I stay in Fort McMurray, whether he stays in Edmonton, what my next steps are to make sure my dad is safe and can do the things he wants to in the future,” Woolner mentioned.
He hopes there may be extra effort to make Edmonton safer. Woolner doesn’t need anybody else to undergo what his dad has.
“He’s 86 years old. He earned the right to walk downtown safely, and take pictures of buildings. He’s earned that.”
Edmonton police have charged 54-year-old Orian Blain Larose with aggravated assault. His subsequent courtroom look is July 19.
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