A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with two random and unprovoked attacks with a hammer in Courtenay this month.
The suspect was arrested Tuesday and is in custody pending a court appearance, Comox Valley RCMP said in a statement released Wednesday.
“The assistance we received from the public was instrumental,” said Cpl. Matt Holst, of the Comox Valley RCMP major crime unit.
“These attacks were concerning to everyone. Residents and businesses went out of their way to assist the investigation by providing surveillance footage. As a result, the suspect was identified and arrested.”
In the first instance on March 15, a man was walking along the Rotary Trail near Eleventh Street and Cumberland Avenue when he nodded at another man.
The second man pulled out a small hammer and hit the victim on the arm.
The victim’s injuries did not require medical attention, police said.
Police stepped up their bike patrols in the area to reach out-of-the way places.
Five days later, a man was walking in an alley behind the Canada Post office and nodded at another man. The second man used a small hammer to strike the victim on the face and leg, leading to minor injuries.
Both victims were fortunate to avoid significant injury, police said.
