3 teens arrested after violent assault of Kelowna girl captured on video

Police in Kelowna say three teens have been arrested after a violent attack on a girl was captured on video on Friday night.

The Kelowna RCMP says on Sept. 27, Mounties were notified about the incident at Gyro Beach on Lakeshore Drive around 8:30 p.m.

Mounties say the assault was seen by approximately 30 teens, who all ran away once police arrived at the scene.

“This investigation involves youth victims and aggressors. I am limited to what I can say due to the Privacy Act and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. I would like to take this time to acknowledge the two youths that phoned the police and attempted to intervene during the assault — thank you,” Sgt. Laura Pollock shared on Wednesday.

“Of the 30-plus people there standing around, watching and taking video, you showed compassion and made the right decision. Empowering youth to call 911 when witnessing violence and reaching out to adults to help stop violence is of utmost importance,” she added.

The RCMP says they are now “reviewing very clear and detailed video of the incident,” and have identified all five suspects.

“Yesterday, three of the five youth were arrested and released on strict conditions. We will be monitoring them to ensure they are complying with these conditions and attending any future court dates,” Pollock shared.

They’re asking anyone with information about the assault, including any witnesses who have yet to speak with investigators, to come forward to police.

Pollock says filming or posting video online for the purpose of humiliating another person is “unacceptable.”

Mounties say the video has been circulating “widely” online in the Kelowna community, and they’re urging the public to stop sharing it.

“I know from my work with victims that have been exploited through imagery that continuous circulation of video and photos when they are a victim of crime has profound and lasting impacts. The video is degrading and the intent is to humiliate. The sharing of evidence can negatively impact witnesses that we have yet to interview and the prosecution of this case.

“While the conversation and work around ending violence is paramount, the continuous sharing of this video is not aiding in a collective stand against violence,” she explained.

The Mounties say investigators believe several additional violent incidents went unreported in Kelowna over the weekend, and they’re asking community members to “take an active stand against violence” by reporting it right away.

Pollock says the RCMP is now working with the City of Kelowna’s community safety plan partners, along with other community agencies such as the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the school district, to build an “early intervention and prevention approach to identify and connect at-risk youth to integrated wrap-around supports and services.”

“Collectively as parents, educators, law enforcement, support workers, and partners in our community it is our responsibility to continue the conversation and efforts to stop youth crime. We will continue engaging children at a younger age and ensuring those who have complex needs are receiving the social and community supports they require,” she explained.

“We know there is a distinct relation to the youth who commit the majority of violent crimes and those who have experienced some form of trauma, abuse, bullying and mental health diagnosis at a young age.”

In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas shared that he’s “shocked” to hear about the recent violent attack.

“My thoughts are with the young victim and her family during this incredibly difficult time, and I wish her a full and swift recovery,” he said.

“As this is an ongoing investigation that is being handled by the Kelowna RCMP, it is crucial that the process be respected and allowed to unfold. I have been in contact with the RCMP Superintendent and have full confidence in the work they are doing to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Dyas said, adding that while he is currently in Ottawa, he is fully engaged with the RCMP on the matter.

Victim’s father says his emotions are ‘maxed out’ after the violent assault

“Anger, disgust, frustration, sadness, empathy for obviously my daughter,” he said.

The distraught father tells 1130 NewsRadio that on the night of the attack, a friend invited his daughter to Gyro Beach for a birthday party.

“She thought you make more friends by meeting other people,” he said.

According to him, when she got there the friend had left, and she was swarmed by a group of teens who began to punch and kick her.

The father says he was woken up by a call from the victim’s mother who let him know what happened.

He says he’s frustrated that incidents like this are happening too often.

“I’m sick of seeing how many times this is happening. I’ve had an outpouring of support from people who have had this happen to their kid,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.

He says his daughter is conscious now, and healing physically, but she’s “got a long road of therapy” ahead of her.

“These kids are lucky that my kid is tough, they think they got the best of her. They didn’t even get a piece of her,” he said.

The frustrated father says he’s glad that police have made arrests, but he’s not happy that the kids who brutally beat his daughter are sitting “right back at home right now.”

“It’s not the cop’s fault, they’re bound by laws,” he said. “These kids need to be saved because their minds haven’t developed. They’re not sure what the difference between right and wrong is.”

He says this was his 13-year-old daughter’s first year of high school. He calls her a sweetheart, who jumps to help less fortunate kids.

“I’ve seen her ride home on busses with kids because they weren’t sure where they were going,” he said.

The father says he is not going to stop advocating because he wants to make sure this kind of incident does not happen to any other child in the city.

—With files from Sonia Aslam and Aastha Pandey-Kanaan.