Trio of teens arrested following alleged hammer assault

Three teenagers could be facing charges following an alleged assault involving a hammer at a Port Moody park and ride lot on Sunday.

Calling the incident “bizarre,” Port Moody media relations officer Const. Sam Zacharias said police are trying to determine just what led up to the encounter at Moody Street and Clarke Street at approximately 4:30 p.m.

“We’re trying to determine some context here,” Zacharias explained to the Dispatch. “A couple of witnesses have indicated that the youth were reportedly taunting passersby and motorists . . . but we don’t exactly know what led to this altercation.”

According to one account, the alleged victim – a man in his 30s – made a comment to three youths, “kind of calling them out on their behaviour,” Zacharias said.

One youth allegedly hit the man with a hammer while another is accused of brandishing a knife, according to a release from Port Moody police. The suspects fled the scene.

“Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt,” Zacharias said.

Paramedics treated one man at the scene.

Officers subsequently found and arrested three youths at a SkyTrain station. Police seized a hammer and “quite a wide array” of knives, according to Zacharias.

One of the youths is known to police, Zacharias said.

The suspects and the alleged victim didn’t know each other, according to police.

Anyone with information on the case who hasn’t talked to police is asked to call the Port Moody Police Department.