‘I don’t think I can trust downtown anymore.’
Sanela Kukac
Kicker
Last Thursday afternoon, Michael So was walking downtown St. John’s to get a gift for his co-worker when he was attacked by a woman he didn’t know.
So – who is well known in the community and an avid downtown walker – says the attack was unprovoked and has left him feeling unsafe.
“I don’t think I can trust downtown anymore,” said So. “I might be safer in the wintertime. (I don’t feel safe) not now, not for a while after what happened.”
So said the attacker was hitting herself before turning her attention to him, striking him in the face.
“(My) glasses were broken, I was so worried to have to get new ones,” said So.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary confirmed 34-year-old Alyssa Spurrell was arrested hours after the Water Street attack in connection with the assault. According to an RNC news release, police say Spurrell fled from officers on Lime Street later that afternoon and hit another passerby before being taken into custody. She has been charged with two counts of assault and two counts of breaching a release order.
Once the details of the attack were posted on social media, the community rallied together and, with the help of S’Pairs Optical, So received brand-new glasses free of charge.
Darren Holloran, a long- time friend of So’s and owner of Always in Vogue, says the city needs to make streets safer.
“The need to wake up. St. John’s downtown is supposed to be a place where families can come, couples can go downtown for supper and go out for drinks,” said Holloran. “You’re supposed to feel safe, and the tourists are supposed to feel safe when they come.”
Holloran says downtown has changed a lot in the last couple of years.
“We’ve got a major drug addiction and mental health issue going on in our city. It seems that a lot of people that need to get the help are hanging downtown,” Holloran said. “Which is fine for the most part, but now it’s becoming more aggressive.”
The incident has made Holloran feel uncomfortable, not only as a downtown business owner but also as a father of small children.
“My biggest concern is not about scaring customers away or people away, my biggest concern is getting these people help,” said Holloran.
St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen said they’ve been meeting with the Department of Justice and downtown business groups to discuss long-term solutions for public safety.
Breen says public safety concerns are among the most frequent issues brought to his office.
“We receive a lot of complaints on public safety,” said Breen. “I would say it’s one of the top three issues in the city right now.”
Breen said the priority should be increasing police presence, specifically foot patrols, focusing on the downtown core from Harvey Road and Military Road down to Water Street and Duckworth Street. He added that the city is currently working through the budgetary requirements needed to make those patrols happen.
RNC Const. Stephanie Myers says police already patrol downtown using officers on foot, on horseback and in plain clothing.
Myers also urged people to report crime directly to police by phone or online instead of posting about them on social media.
“We can only respond to what we are made aware of and what is reported,” Myers said. “If someone’s not reporting it directly to us, it can be assumed that we don’t know about it.”
Myers recommends anyone heading downtown take extra precautions, such as using a buddy system, keeping cellphones charged, sharing locations with family, and keeping a close eye on drinks. Above all, police stress that any suspicious activity or emergencies should be reported immediately by calling 911 or RNC dispatch at 709-729-8000.
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