The Lethbridge Police Service has released a surveillance image of a man who was allegedly involved in an armed incident on Saturday afternoon in the Park Place Mall.
Shortly after 5:00 p.m., officers responded to the south entrance of the mall on 1 Ave South following reports a man had been chased by several males, including a man brandishing a knife, and pepper sprayed inside the shopping centre's doors.
The victim of the pepper spraying, a 26-year-old man, was located near the mall’s food court. EMS and firefighters attended to the man’s injuries and police detained him for further questioning.
The mall was evacuated and fire crews conducted a hazardous material decontamination. The shopping centre was closed for the remainder of Saturday.
An LPS investigation into the matter determined the victim had been at the mall earlier in the day with a group of friends when a second group approached them. The two groups left the mall separately but both returned to the shopping centre just before 5:00 p.m. The suspect arrived in a gold or bronze coloured SUV.
Police have identified one of the members of the alleged group of offenders but are attempting to identify the remaining parties.
The man who allegedly brandished a knife is described as:
- An Aboriginal male
- Believed to be in his 20s
- Having an average build
Police have not determined a motive for the attack. The LPS investigation into the pepper spray incident continues with the Blood Tribe Police Service’s assistance.
Anyone with information about the suspect's identity or the pepper spray incident is asked to contact the LPS, 403-328-4444, or Crime Stoppers.
