Police investigating assault at downtown church
Central United maintenance worker accosted; food taken
Police are attempting to identify a man who physically assaulted a staff member at a church in Welland earlier this month.
The incident occurred July 4 at about 6:50 p.m. in the kitchen area of Central United Church.
Niagara Regional Police say the suspect fled the area and that the victim suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident.
The individual assaulted is the building’s security and property manager, said Rev. Martha Lockwood, the church’s pastor.
The suspect came to the church while the staff member was setting up for a group that rents one of its rooms for meetings and asked to use the washroom.
Appearing familiar to the victim, he let the man into the building and shortly after the man asked about hamburgers and hotdogs, said Lockwood, also assuming he had been there previously for one of the church’s community barbecues, held on the last Sunday of every month.
The man then started a physical altercation with the maintenance worker, before he could offer him something else to take care of his hunger.
“It’s a shame. He didn’t need to resort to violence. We would’ve found him something to eat or given
The man fled the scene with a bag of apples he took from the church but did not take any money or valuable property.
Lockwood said church staff and volunteers are aware of the incident and have been encouraged to take an extra glance when coming in and out of the building on Young Street in the downtown area.
“We want to keep people safe, but we don’t want to become a fortress either,” she said.
Lockwood said the event is troubling because the church strives to help struggling people in the city whenever it can.
“If you’re in need, and someone is here, we will help you,” she said.
The pastor feels the incident suggests more can be done in the city to provide for people.
“Whether he had mental health or substance abuse issues or was just plain hungry — it’s obvious there are needs in our community that aren’t being met,” she said.
Asked why Niagara police waited 26 days to issue a news release and photos of the suspect, spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin it is due to investigators following up and working with the victim involved.
“At this point they are releasing the photos in the hopes that a member of the public is able to assist the investigation,” she wrote in an email.
The act was captured on video and police have released images of the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Tim Wiley at 905-688-4111 or tim.wiley@niagarapolice.ca.