Unprovoked assault at St. Vital intersection leads to criminal charge

A man has been arrested after a pedestrian was allegedly assaulted by a panhandler in St. Vital Saturday morning.

The 43-year-old male victim was standing at the intersection of Abinojii Mikanah and St.Mary’s Road at about 11 a.m. April 25 when a suspect, who police say was panhandling at the time, approached the victim and assaulted him. The assault was unprovoked, the Winnipeg Police Service stated in a news release Sunday. The suspect tried to steal the victim’s cellphone but was unsuccessful before he fled the area.

The victim had minor injuries and didn’t need medical attention. A suspect was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday by officers who were called to the intersection on a separate report of panhandling. At that time, the assault suspect was recognized and arrested.

Daniel Ryan Smith, 41, is charged with assault and was detained in custody.