A young male viciously assaulted a woman on the Galloping Goose Trail yesterday evening, breaking open her nose and sending her to hospital.
Saanich police say the 49-year-old woman was walking to her job as a cleaner around 5 p.m. on the trail parallel to the 3300 block of Douglas Street, or just south of the Red Lion Inn.
Three males in their teens or early 20s approached from the opposite direction and one of them suddenly punched the woman in the nose with a closed fist, police say. The punch left a gash on her face possibly consistent with the suspect wearing a ring.
The assault was unprovoked and there had been no interaction between the woman and the young men. Police investigators believe the assault was a random attack.
The suspect is described as a white male, late teens or early 20s, with shoulder-length blonde hair cut just below the jaw line. He was wearing shorts and a black T-shirt with white writing on it.
The assault happened during rush hour on the Goose and investigators are asking any witnesses to come forward and call Saanich police at 250-475-4321.
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