A 15-year old male youth has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault following a stabbing incident at BridgeFest Saturday night.
The youth, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was in provincial court Monday morning. In addition to aggravated assault, he is also charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
He was scheduled to be back in court Tuesday morning for a show cause hearing.
According to the RCMP, the incident took place around 9 p.m. on the grounds of the BridgeFest 2011 event. Battlefords municipal RCMP were on patrol at BridgeFest when they were called to a report of someone being stabbed. Police say they located a 19-year-old male victim stabbed once in the abdomen near the front gate entrance. The man was transported to Battlefords Union Hospital in serious condition.
According to the RCMP it is alleged the incident started when two groups of people erupted into a verbal confrontation with one another. It escalated to the point where the 15-year-old allegedly pulled a knife. The victim of the stabbing had been trying to disarm the suspect when the stabbing took place, according to police.
Members of WPD Ambulance transported the victim to Battlefords Union Hospital for surgery. As of Monday he was still in hospital.
RCMP members interviewed witnesses on the scene and a short time later made the arrest.
Police say the investigation is continuing and they are seeking anyone else who may have witnessed the event for any additional information.
