Police to step up patrol near Commons after string of assaults

HALIFAX – Regional Police will be stepping up their presence north of the Halifax Commons after a recent string of violent assaults in the area.

The latest incident happened around 1:10 a.m. Sunday, when a man and woman were swarmed and assaulted by a group of 10-15 people near the Oval, close to the Cogswell Roundabout.

The woman also had her wallet stolen, while a third man began fighting with the group, which eventually fled toward North Park Street.

No one was seriously hurt.

With four previous attacks in less than a month, Cst. Dianne Woodworth with Halifax Regional Police said Quick Response Units are being deployed to the area.

This will mean a larger visual and undercover presence, with officers performing, “special checks.”

“With patrol, it’s more so about flying the flag and having our members be seen in the area,” Woodworth said. “Plainclothes is more of a surveillance and keeping an eye on things going on.”

“We want to catch these people that are making our community feel uneasy at present.”

On Nov. 21, a woman was sexually assaulted near the Garrison Grounds at Bell Road and Sackville Street, before she managed to fight off her attacker.

He fled toward the Cogswell Roundabout and is described as 5 ft. 8 in. tall with a slim build.

He was wearing a black hoodie with sweat pants and a dark touque.

Early on Nov. 15, a 22-year-old woman was approached by a group of four men on Buddy Daye Street, one of whom punched her in the face several times.

She later realized her wallet was missing after the group fled the area.

The suspects were described as black, all around 5 ft. 9 in. tall with skinny builds. Three of the men were wearing black hoodies, while a fourth was wearing a white t-shirt, according to police.

Early on Nov. 7, a 34-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of his wallet by a group of people in the area of Maynard Street and Cunard Street, who then fled the area.

The man was taken to hospital with what police called non-life threatening injuries.

The suspects in that case are described as a group of six black people in their late teens or early 20’s, three females and three males.

An hour later, officers responded to a call of a robbery on Gottingen Street, where a 58-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of his wallet.

Police didn’t have a description of a suspect or suspects at the time.

Woodworth said there is no definitive link to all five robberies but the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

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