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Calgary police are searching for the victims and witnesses of a suspect’s random attacks on bystanders and police officers that occurred downtown on Wednesday.
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According to a news release, Calgary police were investigating a possible hit-and-run that happened in the 800 block of Macleod Trail SE just after 7 p.m. when officers found footage of a man allegedly assaulting multiple people.
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CCTV footage reviewed of the hit-and-run incident shows a man approaching a family walking on Macleod Trail SE between 8th and 9th avenues SE. According to police, the man punched another man several times. The victim fell to the ground and was hit again by the attacker.
“The victim was able to defend himself and escape the attack,” police said, adding that investigators have located and spoken with that family.
Surveillance footage then showed a few minutes later an unknown man and woman leaving the Arts Commons building and walking toward Macleod Trail SE when the suspect approached them, pointed a “gun” at the man and hit him.
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By 7:20 p.m., the suspect found another family leaving Olympic Plaza and walking south on Macleod Trail SE. The man punched a man in the face, but the family defended themselves and found a peace officer and reported the incident.
Officers reviewing surveillance footage noticed the suspect entering the Arts Commons building, so police began searching for him there. He was found, but attacked the police during his arrest.
“One employee is injured. The officer was taken to hospital and later released,” Calgary police said. “The suspect was also taken to hospital for examination.”
Police charged Dawson Bailey Richardson, 29, with three counts of assault, one count of mischief, two counts of resisting arrest and one count of assault on a police officer.
Richardson remains in custody pending his next court appearance on Friday.
Investigators expect more charges to be filed as the investigation continues, as they are still waiting to hear from several of the victims and other witnesses to the attacks.
Any victims who have not yet spoken to police or anyone who may have witnessed the incident or spoken to the suspect are asked to call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or calgarycrimestoppers.org.
sbabych@postmedia.com
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