Man assaulted while removing 'anti-homelessness' flyers from shelter site along Rivers Trail, police say

Photo: Tim Petruk

These signs are hanging on temporary construction fencing that has been erected along Rivers Trail between the Halston Bridge and the CN Rail Bridge.

A man was assaulted on Rivers Trail in North Kamloops on Monday, police say, while removing an anti-homeless shelter flyer from a fence on Kingston Avenue, where a controversial shelter is slated to soon be built.

The incident is alleged to have taken place at about 2:15 p.m. on Monday on the Rivers Trail between the Halston Bridge and the CN Rail Bridge.

“According to the report, a man was walking along the path, observed an anti-homelessness sign and attempted to remove it,” RCMP Const. Crystal Evelyn told Castanet Kamloops.

“As he did, he was assaulted by a man.”

Evelyn said the suspect is described as a white man standing five-foot-11 with stubble. He was wearing a jacket with camouflage patches and walking two dogs.

“The victim received non-life-threatening injuries,” Evelyn said.

Construction on the Moira House shelter is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The project has drawn the ire of many nearby residents, both in Westmount and in the Schubert Drive area.

Temporary fencing was erected in the area in the last week. As of Monday, it had been kicked over and plastered with signs opposed to the shelter.

Anyone with information about the incident can call police at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.