ON March 9 at approximately 11:30 p.m., New Westminster Police officers were dispatched to the 200-block of Columbia Street after staff at a bar were assaulted by a suspect using bear spray.

Police were told that the staff were assaulted after asking a group of underage youth to leave the licensed establishment.

The group of youth fled towards Columbia SkyTrain Station before being arrested by members of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police. The New Westminster Police Department has taken conduct of this investigation and is asking anyone who witnessed the assault and has not yet spoken to police to reach out to officers to share what they saw.

“People working in the customer service field deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver. “I hope parents take this opportunity to speak with their children about just how serious charges of assault with a weapon are, and how a conviction of assault with a weapon can change your life.”

Anybody who has any further information regarding this incident should contact New Westminster Police Department by calling 604-525-5411.