Man sent to hospital with stab wounds arrested for physically assaulting a homeless person

Thanks to CCTV footage, a man who was initially thought to be a victim has been arrested.

Police said that the adult man staggered into a 7-11 at about 4 am on Nov. 24, 2022 requesting medical assistance.

Police, firefighters and paramedics responded, and treated the “victim” at the scene before transporting him to hospital.

He had serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

After reviewing CCTV evidence, which captured the initial alteration, and was not initially available at the time of the stabbing, it became evident to police that the “victim” was in fact the aggressor, and had initiated the altercation.

“Based on the evidence obtained to date, investigators believe the accused, who has mental health issues, initiated an unprovoked attack on a marginalized person of no fixed address,” said R/Cst. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP Police.

Late in the afternoon of Nov. 24 police went to the home of the 32-year-old Nanaimo man and arrested him for assault with a weapon.

The victim, who has since been identified, did not require medical treatment.

If anyone has information on this incident, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2022-41242.