A Lantzville man is facing mischief charges after he was caught on video smashing the window of a truck he believed to be stolen. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BAT ATTACK

Mistaken identity over stolen truck leads to baseball bat attack in Lantzville

Jun 17, 2022 | 4:28 PM

NANAIMO — An case of mistaken identity escalated quickly to involve a baseball bat, a broken window and several tense moments.

The incident, which was captured on video, occurred on Friday, June 10 around 10:30 a.m. on Ware Rd. in Lantzville where a man smashed the driver’s side window of a pickup truck with the butt-end of a baseball bat.

Multiple people were inside the truck during the chaotic event.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa….this isn’t your truck! This isn’t your truck! I’ll show you the papers! What the [expletive] are you doing dude,” the driver of the truck is heard yelling in the video sent to NanaimoNewsNOW.

After breaking the window, the attacker tells the men inside to “get out of my truck you [expletive]” as he backed away.

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No further physical confrontation occurred, however both sides were heard in the video yelling at each other while waiting for police to arrive.

The situation ultimately boiled down to a case of the attacker mistakenly believing the truck was one he owned and had been stolen a week prior.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien confirmed officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle in which the attacker admitted to smashing the window to prevent the driver from leaving.

“It appeared to be a complete misunderstanding. The vehicle in question was not stolen and was not the property of the individual.”

Officers were able to prove the vehicle’s were different by comparing vehicle identification numbers (VIN) as well as the mileage on the man’s stolen truck with the matching vehicle.

O’Brien added, coincidentally, damage to the truck, owned by a 32-year-old Nanaimo man, also happened to match damage on the stolen vehicle.

“It was just a doppleganger and a complete misunderstanding, however the individual is looking at mischief charges for smashing the window on the truck.”

The attacker, a Lantzville man in his 60’s, was not arrested at the scene and a police investigation continues.

“This was not necessary. This charge was not necessary. Had this individual had just slowed down, taken a deep breath and called us to allow us to deal with it, he wouldn’t be looking at mischief charges.”

Editor’s Note: NanaimoNewsNOW is unable to publicly share the video referenced in this article.

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