A 47-year-old man has been charged after a half-hour crime spree in St. James during which he allegedly attacked a senior and broke into a home.
Winnipeg police say the first victim, a 73-year-old man, was walking on the sidewalk in the 300-block of Aldine Street about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when he was approached by the knife-wielding suspect, who suddenly assaulted him about the upper body.
The senior was taken to hospital, where he remains in stable condition. A 49-year-old man who tried to intervene during the incident was also assaulted and suffered minor injuries to one of his arms.
Police said the knife was not used to attack either victim.
The suspect fled to the 200-block of Olive Street, where he broke into a home and stole jewelry and cigarettes, police said.
Police said the female homeowner returned to her house while a suspect was inside and managed to scare him off without being injured.
“He just bolted out the door,” said Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Blair Good. “She was very fortunate he didn’t do anything to her.”
Police were alerted by victims at both locations and a suspect was arrested in the area of Olive and Portage Avenue about 6 p.m. He allegedly had cocaine and property from the break-in with him.
Glen Joseph Bone, 47, of Portage la Prairie, has been charged with numerous offences, including aggravated assault, break and enter and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Police said Bone was previously known to them for “similar-type offences”, including violent crimes.
By the headline saying this senior was attacked at knifepoint, when the knife was not used in the attack, instills fear in seniors who are reading the headline. This is a rare attack and seniors do not need to be afraid. By mentioning that the suspect is known for similar offences and other violent crimes, provides the reader with the perception that the man arrested, is guilty. This article does not describe factors which may have contributed to the crime (addictions, family problems, etc.) and other mitigating factors. By saying that the attack occurred in the daylight, instills even more fear about daytime attacks and victimization of seniors.
This type of attack is rare and this article FAILS to mention that. Seniors have the lowest rate of self reported violent victimization and when it does happen, 64% (the majority) of seniors know the perpetrator (family, friend, acquaintance). In only 36% of violent incidents, was the perpetrator a stranger to the victim. Also, violent incidents against seniors do not commonly result in injuries (68% don't). And most violent incidents do not involve a weapon.
So after looking at all these stats, which the newspaper failed to mention, its clear that seniors do not have to be any more afraid of being victimized than they were before. It is a rare attack.
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