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UPDATE: 3:05 p.m.
The alleged attacker of a Kelowna priest is now in police custody and is awaiting potential charges.
Kelowna RCMP were called to the Okanagan Sikh Temple Monday (June 10) for reports of an assault in progress.
Police have learned that an unknown male, later identified by police, entered onto the property and began to act aggressively toward others.
A witness told RCMP that the suspect's aggressive behaviour escalated and shifted to him, after he confronted the suspect who allegedly grabbed a hold of a woman's arm.
The suspect then entered inside the temple where he allegedly proceeded to assault another male, before that male and the witness managed to wrestle the suspect to the ground.
"Both men should be recognized for their bravery and determination in subduing the suspect, despite being injured during the physical altercation,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey of the Kelowna RCMP.
“These men more than likely prevented further similar attacks against other innocent bystanders.”
The 29-year-old Kelowna man remains in police custody and faces a number of potential criminal charges.
At this time, investigators do not believe that the man’s actions were religiously motivated.
“Although we don’t believe the unidentified woman sustained any injuries, our investigators would like to hear from her about her encounter, as we continue to investigate,” adds Cpl. O’Donaghey.
If you witnessed this incident, or had a similar encounter in the immediate area and have not yet spoken to police, you are asked to call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.
12 p.m. (original story)
A Kelowna priest is recovering in hospital after he was grabbed by the neck and attacked inside a Sikh temple.
The incident, which the vice-president of the temple does not believe is a hate crime, started just after 9 a.m. on Monday, June 10, when a man allegedly grabbed a woman in the parking lot off Rutland Road.
Vice-president Paramjit Patara tells Castanet the stranger twisted the woman’s arm and then came into the temple.
“He walked into our building because it's open early in the morning and anyone can come in. It is a public building, he just walked in here and started ranting and raving,” he says.
Patara says the man was banging erratically on the dining room tables and wouldn’t stop.
“He grabbed one of our priests by the neck and started choking him,” says Patara. “He got hit in the face and was almost unconscious ... If there was no one else here, he could have died.”
Other people inside the temple surrounded the suspect and had to tie him up to prevent him from being violent. They then called RCMP and waited for them to respond to the temple.
“It’s not a hate crime. This could have happened to anybody,” says Patara. “It is the responsibility of the RCMP to get this person off the street.”
Castanet has reached out to RCMP about the incident and to find out if charges have been laid.
Patara hopes the man will be held responsible for his actions.
