Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024
File: 24-1743
Victoria, BC – Earlier today, VicPD released a plea for the victim of a recent assault to come forward. The victim has since reached out to investigators and the accused has been charged with assault.
Just before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, an officer conducting routine patrols in the downtown core witnessed a man spit in the face of a woman pushing a baby in a stroller, near the intersection of Quadra Street and Yates Street. The suspect spat on the woman’s face as he walked by her in the opposite direction, and the assault is believed to be random.
The victim confirmed with the officer that the man had spit in her face, but left the area while the officer was arresting the suspect. The suspect, Edward O’Donnell, was arrested at the scene and was held for a court appearance.
VicPD published a community update and social media posts, asking for the victim to reach out to investigators.
“This suspect was arrested because of the quick actions of an officer doing routine patrols downtown,” says VicPD Spokesperson Constable Terri Healy. “We will continue to do proactive police work in the downtown core and beyond to ensure people can feel safe in their community. We also thank the victim for coming forward and assisting with our investigation.”
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