Lethbridge Police have charged 39-year-old Kurtis Lauren Babb of Coalhurst, after two senior citizens were allegedly assaulted in separate incidents that occurred within a half hour of each other.
On Apr. 22, just before 3 p.m., police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a physical altercation along the 700 block of 1 Avenue South. Witnesses reported a younger man struck an older man in the head. The victim fell to the ground and the subject fled the scene prior to police arrival. EMS transported the 76-year-old victim to Chinook Regional Hospital, where he was admitted for further treatment of a serious head injury.
A 69-year-old man reported he was walking along a path in Indian Battle Park at approximately 3:30 p.m., when he observed an unknown male approaching him. The victim offered a friendly greeting, and the subject subsequently became irate and began yelling. The victim continued on his way and after taking a few steps he was confronted by the subject and struck in the head, sustaining soft tissue injuries. The subject fled the area and the victim returned to his home.
The description of the man was similar in both incidents, and he was identified by police after a review of video surveillance.
On Apr. 23, police arrested the man downtown.
Investigation determined the subject is unknown to both victims and the assaults were random and unprovoked.
Babb is charged with one count each of aggravated assault and assault. Babb was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court this week.
