By Dominic Abassi

Nanaimo family, including young boy, hit with bear spray on Halloween night

Nov 1, 2016 | 2:51 PM

NANAIMO — What looks like a series of bad decisions ended with a Nanaimo family, including a seven-year-old boy, being hit with bear spray on Halloween night.

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien says they received multiple calls around 8 p.m. Monday about a vehicle driving too fast and revving its engine in the Cilaire Drive and Montrose Avenue area. He says before police got there the car drove past the group of parents and children once again. That’s when a man allegedly hit the car with a flashlight, according to O’Brien.

“This caused the driver to stop…he came out and demanded to know who hit his car,” said O’Brien. “At the same time he pulled out a can of bear spray from his vehicle and blasted the father, but the mother and their seven-year-old son were standing next to them and they were both contaminated with the bear spray.”

O’Brien says several other people in the area came over to help and were also affected by the spray. The driver took off, but has since voluntarily contacted police and provided a statement, according to O’Brien. He says it’s unclear at this point what charges could be laid, noting everyone involved took things too far.

“This is what happens sometimes when violence is met with violence and it ruined the evening for a number of people. Halloween is right up there with Christmas for kids and to have this happen is totally unacceptable.”

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O’Brien says if parents find themselves in a situation like this they need to make sure their children are safe, try to get a plate number, call police and never get involved in a confrontation.

“He (the driver) could be looking at assault with a weapon charges. Unfortunately, on the flip side the person that hit his car could also be looking at mischief charges for damaging the vehicle.”

O’Brien says other than the bear spray incident Halloween night was fairly quiet. He says they responded to 68 calls for service, many fireworks related and no one was arrested for being intoxicated.