Police seeking assault witnesses

Victoria police are investigating after a man and a woman peppersprayed someone and then sped off, causing a serious crash.

Police and paramedics were called to Peacocks Billiards at View and Douglas streets about 11 p.m. Thursday after a man stumbled onto the courtyard of the pool hall saying he had been pepper-sprayed on the street.

Manager Jonathan Lang said the man was in serious pain.

“Basically, we spent half an hour with him while we waited for police and paramedics to arrive,” Lang said.

“We were just giving him pitcher after pitcher of water for him to wash out his eyes as we waited.”

Victoria police spokesman Bowen Osoko said officers interviewed the man and canvassed for witnesses.

Meanwhile, other officers saw two people running from the area and attempted to track them down.

Police saw a car without its lights on speed out of a parking lot in the 1700 block of Store Street, near Herald Street. Minutes later, the car slammed into a vehicle at Pembroke and Government streets.

The man and woman in the car resembled the pair seen running from the scene of the assault, so were arrested. After going to hospital for treatment, they were taken to police cells.

No one in the other vehicle was injured.

Police don’t know the motive for the assault, but believe the victim and assailants are known to each other.

Anyone who witnessed the assault is asked to call Victoria police at 250-995-7654 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).