Male teen arrested after allegedly assaulting and forcing 15-year-old victim to walk home naked in Nanaimo

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      After an adolescent victim was assaulted, robbed, and forced to walk home naked on Vancouver Island, RCMP arrested a male teen suspect during a second, unrelated incident.

      Nanaimo RCMP stated in a news release that around 8 p.m. on April 9, a 15-year-old male youth had attended a gathering near Long Lake, a popular hangout for teenagers.

      At that location, a 16-year-old suspect began making accusations toward the victim and, without provocation, the suspect began kicking and punching the victim in the head.

      The suspect threw the victim’s cellphone, wallet, and shoes in the lake. Then he forced the victim to remove all his clothing and walk home naked.

      As the victim walked home, a bystander came to his aid, offered clothing, and gave him a ride to his home.

      The victim sustained several cuts and lacerations to his upper body, and he received medical treatment at home.

      The parents of the victim reported the incident to RCMP on April 10.

      A video of the incident, which investigators had been provided with, had been uploaded and widely shared on social media.

      “The video, which is approximately two minutes in duration was extremely disturbing, and witnessed by a number of youth who could be heard laughing and jeering at the victim,” Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson Const. Gary O’Brien stated in a news release.

      The suspect happened to be involved in an unrelated motor vehicle collision near Wallace Street at Comox Avenue in Naniamo on April 10, at which time officers arrested him.

      The suspect had allegedly gotten out of his vehicle after the collision and threatened the other driver with a metal baton.

      The 16-year-old male suspect has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and robbery for the April 9 incident. For the April 10 incident, the suspect has been charged with uttering threats and possessing a weapon.

      Anyone who witnessed the April 9 incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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