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City man charged in weekend assault and robbery incidents

Sep 16, 2019 | 2:52 PM

LETHBRIDGE — A 36-year-old man faces charges in relation to two weekend incidents in which men were attacked in north side alleys.

On Saturday (Sept 14) night, police responded to two reports of incidents where a man in a red truck assaulted men in north side alleys.

The first incident happened around 9:45, as a 37-year-old man was walking in the alley along the 500 block of 13 Street North. A red truck pulled up beside him and the passenger got out. The male passenger got and the victim had a brief verbal exchange, before the victim was struck twice with a baseball bat. The suspect then then searched through a wallet in the victim’s backpack and stole cash before returning to the vehicle and leaving the scene.

About 15 minutes later, a 42-year-old-man walking in the alley along the 600 block of 13 Street North was also confronted by a male passenger in a red truck. The male yelled at the victim then pepper sprayed him in the face before fleeing in the truck.

An investigation determined identified the driver and passenger and both were arrested without incident on Saturday night.

Michael Joseph K. Smith, is charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, assault with a weapon and robbery. Smith is in custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release hearing.

The victims were unknown to Smith and the driver of the vehicle was released without charges.