Photo: Alanna Kelly
UPDATE: 3:05 pm
The alleged assailant of a Kelowna priest is now in police custody pending possible charges.
The Kelowna RCMP was called to the Okanagan Sikh Temple on Monday for reports of an ongoing attack.
Police learned that an unidentified man, later identified by police, entered the property and acted aggressively against others.
A witness told RCMP the suspect’s aggressive behavior escalated and shifted onto him after confronting the suspect, who allegedly grabbed a woman’s arm.
The suspect then entered the temple, where he allegedly attacked another man before that man and the witness succeeded in wrestling the suspect to the ground.
“Both men should be recognized for their courage and determination to subdue the suspect despite being injured during the physical altercation,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “These men more than likely prevented other similar attacks against other innocent bystanders.”
The 29-year-old Kelowna man remains in custody and faces a number of possible charges.
The investigators do not assume that the man’s actions were religiously motivated.
“While we don’t believe the unidentified woman was injured, our investigators want to hear about her encounter while we continue our investigation,” added Cpl. O’Donaghey.
If you witnessed this incident or had a similar encounter in the immediate area and have not spoken to the police, you will be asked to call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.
ORIGINAL: 12 noon
A Kelowna priest is recovering in hospital after being grabbed by the neck and brutally assaulted in a Sikh temple.
The incident, which the temple vice president does not consider a hate crime, began just after 9 a.m. on Monday when a man grabbed a woman in the parking lot on Rutland Road.
Vice President Paramjit Patara tells Castanet that the stranger twisted the woman’s arm and then came into the temple.
“He came into our building because it is open early in the morning and anyone can come in. It’s a public building, he just walked in here and started ranting and raving, ”he said.
Patara says the man hit the dining table irregularly and didn’t want to stop.
“He grabbed one of our priests by the neck and started to choke him,” said Patara. “He was slapped in the face and almost passed out … if no one else was here he could have died.”
Other people inside the temple surrounded the suspect and were forced to handcuff him to prevent him from becoming violent. Then they called RCMP and waited for them to answer the temple.
“It’s not a hate crime. That could have happened to anyone, ”said Patara. “It is the responsibility of the RCMP to get this person off the street.”
Castanet reached out to RCMP about the incident to see if any charges were brought.
Patara hopes the man will be held responsible for his actions.
