Man stabbed after offering homeless man shelter

SPALLUMCHEEN – Compassionate intentions were turned against an Armstrong resident when a homeless man he invited home for food and shelter allegedly stabbed him overnight Friday.

The 36-year-old victim who lives in the 1400-block of McLeod Road in Spallumcheen asked the homeless man if he wanted to come home with him for a hot shower, a meal and a warm bed. They both consumed alcohol over the course of the evening and later in the night, when the homeless man refused to go to bed, he was told to leave the house and escorted out. According to a media release from RCMP, they were at the gate at the end of the driveway at about 1:15 a.m. Nov. 14 when the incident happened.

"It is alleged that the homeless man turned and stabbed his host (in) the stomach with a knife," police spokesperson Gord Molendyk says. "A call was placed to 911 and our officers responded to the report of the stabbing, a police service dog unit was called out but they were unable to locate the suspect in the area."

An officer travelling Highway 97A noticed a man matching the description out walking at 7:15 a.m., south from the McLeod subdivision toward Armstrong and he was arrested.

The 59-year-old suspect is a resident of the North Okanagan. He is charged with aggravated assault and is scheduled for a court appearance today, Nov. 17.

The victim remains in hospital recovering from his injuries.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.