Police charge male in connection with assault of two senior citizens

Lethbridge Police have charged a 39-year-old male after two senior citizens were assaulted in separate incidents that occurred within a half hour of each other.

On April 22, just before 3 p.m., police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a physical altercation along the 700 block of 1 Avenue South. Witnesses reported a younger male struck an older male in the head. The victim fell to the ground and the subject fled the scene prior to police arrival. EMS transported the 76-year-old victim to Chinook Regional Hospital where he was admitted for further treatment of a serious head injury. 

A 69-year-old male reported he was walking along a path in Indian Battle Park at approximately 3:30 p.m. when observed an unknown male approaching him. The victim offered a friendly greeting and the subject subsequently became irate and began yelling. The victim continued on his way and after taking a few steps he was confronted by the subject and struck in the head, sustaining soft tissue injuries. The subject fled the area and the victim returned to his home.

The description of the male was similar in both incidents and he was identified by police after a review of video surveillance. 

On April 23, police arrested the male downtown.  

Investigation determined the subject is unknown to both victims and the assaults were random and unprovoked. 

Kurtis Lauren Babb, 39, of Coalhurst, is charged with one count each of aggravated assault and assault.

Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Babb was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court today.