Thursday, October 09, 2008

Bar crowd troubles send Rupertite to Vancouver Hospital with serious injuries


Another ugly incident during the notorious bar crowd hours in downtown Prince Rupert has resulted in a Prince Rupert resident requiring a medi-vac flight to Vancouver and the arrest of three men involved in the early morning incident.

The early Friday morning incident took place in the 700 block of 2nd Avenue West at around 3 am. After the disturbance was attended to by police, a local resident Steve Strong was hospitalized in critical condition, with injuries severe enough to require the transfer to Vancouver General Hospital. He remains under observation there, as he recovers from a series of fractures to his face and skull, which required extensive reconstructive surgery.

25 year old Ted Clifton was arrested and charged over the incident along with two other men in their twenties who have not been identified as of yet.

The troubles downtown over the weekend is one of the more violent ones in recent times, but not an unusual situation for the downtown core which sees a large number of people out on the streets in the early morning hours after the bars close.
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Just last week Prince Rupert RCMP were called to investigate a stabbing downtown during the bar crowd hours over the last weekend of September, part of a bloody weekend of violence acrosss Northern BC.

The Daily News outlined the details of the Friday morning incident, in Wednesday’s paper.

Three men facing charges for aggravated assault
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Pages one and three

Three men face charges in relation to an aggravated assault outside Zorbas Taverna early Friday morning, which left a local man in critical condition.

At approximately 3 a. m. on Friday October 3, Prince Rupert R.C.M.P. responded to a fight in the 700 block of Second Avenue West. Investigation determined that the male suspects targeted the assault against three other males outside a downtown bar after closing, as they were purchasing slices of pizza.

Police have arrested and charged 25-year old Ted Clifton, as well as two other males in their 20’s whose names have yet to be released.

All three face charges of aggravated assault and will appear in court on October 27 and December 15.

Steve Strong, 45, was the assault victim most seriously injured, and he remains hospitalized at Vancouver General Hospital, recovering from a series of fractures to his face and skull.

According to his co-workers at Philpott Evitt Building Centre, Strong was planning to move with his wife to Fort McMurray, Alberta, and that night he had been out celebrating with co-workers and friends.

Strong recently underwent roughly 10 hours of facial reconstructive surgery, as nearly every bone in his face was broken or shattered, and is currently recovering.

Friends report that Strong has been responsive and speaking since coming out of surgery, and at this time he doesn’t appear to have suffered any brain damage.

Strong’s co-workers have begun collecting donations at Philpott Evitt to help support him through is recovery when he returns to Prince Rupert later this month.

In addition to Strong, a 44-year old male was also injured in the assault and is recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

Prince Rupert R.C.M.P. are seeking public assistance in determining the identity of the third victim in this assault.

Anyone with any information regarding his identity or this assault is asked to contact Cpl. Mike TRAAS of the Prince Rupert R.C.M.P. at 250-627-0700 or, if you wish to remain anonymous call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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