Nanaimo RCMP have made an arrest in the assault and attempted abduction of a woman walking home last week.
At approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 24th, a woman in her 20s was walking home when a stranger assaulted her and attempted to force her into his vehicle near Max Bennett Pioneer Park.
According to the woman, she was walking along Dickinson Road after being dropped off by an RDN transit bus when she noticed a newer model silver-grey Mitsubishi Outlander SUV with Alberta licence plates making strange turns.
Seconds later, the vehicle approached and a man got out and asked her for directions. While looking the directions up on her phone, the man swung a blunt object at her, striking her in the head.
Despite the unexpected assault, the woman managed to fight off the suspect and ran to a nearby home where the residents of the home called 911.
Police said the suspect followed her on foot for a short distance, then got back in his vehicle and drove northbound on Dickinson Crossing. Police canvassed the area but were unable to locate the suspect or vehicle at the time.
The woman was treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
See more: Nanaimo woman fights off stranger after being struck by blunt object in abduction attempt
With the cooperation of the Ladysmith RCMP, Bradley Dylan Boscariol was arrested in the suspect vehicle and taken into police custody at approximately 6 p.m. on March 25th.
On Saturday, March 26th,search warrants in support of the investigation were carried out at a residence and the vehicle associated with the accused.
The detailed description of the suspect vehicle provided by the woman led to a quick investigation involving police databases to focus in on the suspect’s vehicle and its location.
“Having an individual arrested for this incident and in police custody within 24 hours, must be reassuring to the citizens of Nanaimo,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“Our investigators would also like to extend their sincerest appreciation to the general public for their cooperation and assistance with this file, and to the very courageous and tough young lady who stood strong when faced with real adversity. In our books, she’s a rock star.”
Boscariol has been charged with assault with a weapon and attempt to kidnap.
Prior to the attack, the woman told police she recalls seeing a black SUV with three male occupants drive slowly past her. Secondly, during the attack the woman lost her brown leather backpack.
Anyone with information regarding this incident that has not yet spoken to police are asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at (250) 754-2345.
