A Facebook post about a seemingly random attack in a North Saanich parking lot left residents of Sidney and North Saanich concerned—but police now say the online claims were inaccurate.
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Sunday, March 23rd, in the parking lot outside Firehouse Subs at Sandown Park.
A young woman posted on Facebook claiming she and her partner were attacked by an unidentified male, describing a violent encounter that left them both injured.
According to her post, which has since been deleted, the suspect—described as a Caucasian man likely in his mid-30s—allegedly punched her in the face, kicked her while she was on the ground, and stomped on her head. She said the man then fought with her boyfriend, breaking his nose, before fleeing the scene and leaving his bike behind.
She also stated that RCMP and paramedics responded to the scene, and that she and her partner were transported to Victoria General Hospital for examination and treatment.
The graphic nature of the post, which included images of injuries, drew significant attention and concern in local Facebook groups, prompting many to question public safety in the area which was also followed by a bank robbery on Beacon Avenue the following day.
However, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP issued a statement clarifying that their investigation into the incident, which included a review of nearby surveillance footage, revealed the original account posted to social media was “embellished and not truthful.”
Police confirmed they responded to the incident and issued three violation tickets. No criminal charges have been filed at this time.
Victoria Buzz reached out to the woman who made the original post. She declined to comment further, saying, “Thank you for reaching out but I don’t want to speak about this anymore. I deleted the post for a few reasons.”
She cited being overwhelmed by messages, including one person who offered to send her money and then asked about her voting preferences, as well as an ex-partner reaching out unexpectedly.
“The guy messaging me seemed like a possible scam,” she added. “We just want to rest for another day and go back to work but thank you.”
RCMP have not released any further details, but emphasized that misinformation on social media can create unnecessary fear in the community. They encourage residents to rely on verified sources for updates on public safety incidents.
