A man was stabbed and sprayed with bear spray near a public pool in Surrey Monday evening.
RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) responded to a call of a suspected stabbing at 6:10 p.m. near Hjorth Road Outdoor Pool (10277 - 148 St.) in Guildford. Upon arrival, police located a man with "superficial injuries." BC EHS transported him to the hospital, where he received treatment and was subsequently discharged.
Surrey Police media relations officer Sgt. Tige Pollock said the stabbing had happened "somewhere in the area" and the male victim had gone to the pool to "decontaminate from the bear spray."
Tomasz Wilks' daughter was in the pool at the time of the stabbing and said the victim had been chased from the area outside of the pool before being stabbed and falling into the pool, which was full of people at the time. He added that kids taking part in a swimming program were quickly removed from the pool by their coach and taken to a secure place.
Wilks said his primary concern is that there is no attendant at the pool entrance to help keep those swimming safe.
Pollock added that the male victim is not cooperating with police in investigating the stabbing.
There was some speculation that the two individuals were from the nearby Lookout Housing and Health Society shelter, but a spokesperson for the shelter said there is "no indication that any of the guests staying at our shelter were involved in this incident."
They had spoken with the community member who was attacked and confirmed that the person did seek medical attention.
The Now-Leader has reached out to the City of Surrey for comment.
