OPP seek witnesses after local barber seriously injured in Carleton Place altercation; mayor calls for public forum on homelessness, community safety
Lanark County OPP are seeking witnesses and video footage as they continue to investigate a downtown Carleton Place altercation that left a local barber with serious injuries and resulted in charges against a 48-year-old man.
Police say officers responded to an altercation involving two men on Bridge Street near College Street just before 1 a.m. on Friday, July 24.
OPP say investigators are continuing to gather information about the events leading up to the altercation and are asking anyone who witnessed what happened or has dashcam, surveillance or cellphone video from the area around that time to come forward.
Police said on Thursday, July 30 that they are aware of a video of the incident circulating on social media.
Following the initial investigation, David Murray, 48, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and failing to comply with probation. Charges have not been proven in court.
Murray was held in custody and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice for a bail hearing.
“The video captures only a portion of the interaction and does not include the initial encounter that occurred prior to the recording,” OPP said.
Carleton Place Mayor Toby Randell has also addressed the incident in a Wednesday, July 29 statement, saying he has received requests from residents to make a public statement but cannot comment directly while the criminal investigation is underway.
“The police have a job to do and I am going to continue to let them do that,” Randell said.
The mayor said he has heard from residents who are concerned about what happened and has spent the past two days speaking with various agencies.
“What I will say is that I know people are frustrated. I have spoken to people that are frightened, that are angry and upset. I have spent the better part of the last two days speaking to various agencies, conveying those sentiments through hours of phone calls. It saddens me that this incident has happened and it concerns me that people are worried that it might happen again.”
Randell said he has requested a public forum on homelessness and community safety, which would give residents an opportunity to speak with organizations that can help address those issues.
“It is with that in mind that I have requested that a public forum on homelessness and community safety be held to provide residents with an opportunity to attend and speak with these organizations that can help,” Randell said.
More information about the proposed forum will be released when it becomes available, he added.
A GoFundMe campaign launched for Towne Barber owner Kyle Blundell says he suffered a broken arm in three places, injuries to his face and abdomen, underwent emergency surgery and spent time in intensive care following an incident on Bridge Street.
According to fundraiser organizer Kristyn Hesse, Blundell approached an individual following concerns that had been raised within the community.
“What began as a conversation quickly turned into a violent assault,” Hesse said.
Blundell has since been released from hospital but faces an uncertain amount of time away from work while his arm heals and he undergoes dental reconstruction and further medical treatment, according to the fundraiser.
As of Thursday, July 30, the campaign had raised more than $25,000 toward its $26,000 goal.
Anyone with information or video related to the July 24 incident is asked to contact Lanark County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and reference the occurrence number. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).