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Nanaimo RCMP trying to track down teen's alleged attacker

NANAIMO – Seventeen-year-old girl victim of early morning roadside assault in Cedar.

A 17-year-old girl who stopped to help some kittens at the side of the road became the victim of an abduction attempt in Cedar early Wednesday and Nanaimo RCMP hopes the public can help track down the suspect.

The assault happened at about 1:30 a.m. when the victim, who was driving home, stopped her car on Wilkinson Road near the Nanaimo River bridge on Cedar Road to try and shoo some stray kittens off the road.

“While she’s herding the kittens, a car pulls up and stops behind her,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “She gets a very bad feeling from the guy. They exchange a few words and she turns to walk back to her car. As she walks back to her car she’s attacked from behind and thrown to the ground.”

The girl fought back as the suspect choked her and tried to drag her into his car. She lost consciousness several times from the choking during the struggle.

“As she regains consciousness, she sees the guy running back to his car and then he flees in his car,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said it is unknown why her assailant broke off the attack, but it’s possible he was spooked by an approaching vehicle.

The victim sustained numerous cuts, scrapes and bruises from the attack, but was able to drive herself home where her parents called police. The girl did not require hospitalization, O’Brien said.

Nanaimo RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit is investigating the case and hopes someone might have witnessed part or all of the event.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, 20-25 years old, skinny with short hair. He was wearing baggy low jeans, a white or grey T-shirt and a flat-brimmed, dark ball cap.

His vehicle is an older white 1990-95 Honda Civic or Toyota, with a dark pinstripe on the door panel and a small spoiler on the trunk. The victim described the car as very loud and had a blue light glowing, possibly inside the windshield area.

“This is considered a random crime of opportunity, extremely concerning and we’re hoping people will assist us in identifying this vehicle or person,” O’Brien said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
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