On October 9, 2022, at approximately 8:10am 1 District – St. Catharines / Thorold uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a report of a stranger assault in St. Catharines.
Officers attended the area Pelham Street and St. Paul Crescent and met with the 9-year-old male victim and their parent. The victim did not suffer any physical injuries.
The initial investigation determined that on October 9, 2022, at approximately 8:00am the victim had been walking northbound on Pelham Road (near #48) between Rykert Street and Antwerp Street. An unknown man wearing a clown mask approached the victim and grabbed their arm and pulled. The suspect said to the victim “Your mom sent me; I have candy for you”. The fearful victim struck the suspect twice and was able to run to a safe place to call their parent.
1 District uniform officers, detectives, and a NRPS K9 Unit checked the area for the suspect with negative results.
The investigation has been assigned to 1 District detectives who are being assisted by the Child Abuse Unit.
The victim describes the unknown suspect as:
Black male 6’3″-6’4” feet tall Chubby / muscular build Bald Deep low-pitched voice and spoke clear English
The suspect’s clothing is described as:
Short dark pants No shirt Two different types of sandals Panted black Halloween clown mask
The victim reports that the suspect be of no fixed address / homeless.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009964.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
Click Here For Crime Stoppers Online
Anyone (residents or businesses) in the area with closed circuit security cameras, doorbell video cameras, or dash cameras are asked to review their footage for suspicious activity for the period between 7:30am and 9:00am on October 9, 2022.
2022-115584