Syringe assault suspect remains in drug treatment

By Jensen, Randy on September 4, 2020.

Lethbridge Herald

A 29-year-old man who sprayed a security guard in the face with a loaded syringe had his case adjourned until later this month as he undergoes treatment for drug addiction at Poundmaker’s Lodge.

Wade Allan Nicholas Cross Child did not appear in person in Lethbridge provincial court on Thursday, but made the adjournment request through his lawyer Ingrid Hess. His case will return to court on Sept. 23 to allow more time for resolution discussions to take place with the Crown.

Hess was also not sure Cross Child would have completed his treatment regime by that time, but said she would update the court on Sept. 23 in any event.

Cross Child is charged with aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon, stemming from an incident at the former supervised consumption site March 3.

Just after 6 a.m. police responded to a report that a security guard working at the SCS in the 1000 block of 1 Avenue South had been assaulted by a client.

Security approached a man in the waiting area after he began to inject himself, and since drug use is only permitted in the consumption area, the security guard told the man to stop and go into the supervised area. The man became upset and shot the contents of the syringe – blood and other fluids – into the security guard’s face before he was taken into custody.

The 22-year-old guard was treated at Chinook Regional Hospital and released, but required ongoing treatment afterward as a result of the exposure.

Police arrested the suspect at the SCS and seized the syringe.

– With files from Delon Shurtz

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