By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative/Penticton Herald

The stepfather of the man who was viciously assaulted outside a Penticton restaurant and sent to hospital with brain injuries is livid that the suspect arrested and charged with assault Monday evening was again walking free by Tuesday morning.

Steve Zeiler is also very upset at a press release issued by the Penticton RCMP Tuesday morning as it claimed the injuries his son suffered were 香蕉视频直播渘on-life-threatening.香蕉视频直播�

Zeiler noted his stepson, Vincent Florence, 28, suffered bleeding on the brain and had to be transferred for emergency surgery from Penticton Regional Hospital to Kelowna General Hospital because doctors were so worried about his condition following the assault.

The press release stated: 香蕉视频直播淥n Dec. 22, shortly before 10:30 p.m., Penticton RCMP were called to a restaurant in the 2400 block of Skaha Lake Road, for an alleged assault.

香蕉视频直播淭he investigation revealed that a 28-year-old man had been assaulted, resulting in serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

香蕉视频直播淭he suspect was released on a police undertaking with conditions. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with the RCMP having recommended criminal charges to the BC Prosecution Service.

香蕉视频直播淪hould anyone have information about this incident, they香蕉视频直播檙e asked to contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300.香蕉视频直播�

The man who has been arrested is almost twice the size of his stepson and it enrages him that he香蕉视频直播檚 been released on conditions within hours following his arrest, said Zeiler.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 disappointed that this guy is out of jail obviously,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 also disappointed that the press release that stated 香蕉视频直播榥on life-threatening injuries香蕉视频直播�. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know how much emergency brain surgery could be non life-threatening.香蕉视频直播�

Zeiler said he香蕉视频直播檚 been given the name of the individual who has been charged with assaulting his stepson.

The Herald has decided to not release the name until he makes his first court appearance.

Considering the physical harm caused to his stepson, Zeiler said the common assault charge is also upsetting and hopes a more serious charge is considered by the Crown in the future.

香蕉视频直播淵ou spend more time sitting in the drunk tank in Penticton or any court system in this country than you do for a serious incident like this where my stepson could have been killed,香蕉视频直播� he said.

He is close friends with a high-profile Penticton lawyer, who used to work as a Crown prosecutor in Vancouver.

香蕉视频直播淪he told me that if she was handling this case in Vancouver when she was working for the Crown, she would have charged him with attempted murder,香蕉视频直播� said Zeiler.

He香蕉视频直播檚 been told by police the man charged was released with conditions and will remain free until a scheduled court appearance in May.

This only adds to the anger and frustration being felt by himself, his stepson, his entire family and a large group of supporters, said Zeiler.

香蕉视频直播淰incent is terrified of this guy and you can香蕉视频直播檛 really blame him,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got a whole town that basically knows this guy香蕉视频直播檚 name. Everybody knows who it is and they can香蕉视频直播檛 believe he香蕉视频直播檚 being released back into society until May.

香蕉视频直播淚t doesn香蕉视频直播檛 seem like anybody is taking this seriously anymore. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know what it is. It香蕉视频直播檚 a revolving door in our court system. It香蕉视频直播檚 disgusting.香蕉视频直播�

Zeiler said he phoned the RCMP Monday evening after other people contacted him to inform him an arrest has been made.

香蕉视频直播淭he police actually phoned other people that we know before they phoned the family,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey never even phoned us directly that they had arrested anybody. I香蕉视频直播檓 the one who had to phone them because somebody phoned me and told me that they had made an arrest. They didn香蕉视频直播檛 bother phoning us. They didn香蕉视频直播檛 phone us at all.

香蕉视频直播淚 phoned there last night (Monday) and I didn香蕉视频直播檛 get a phone call back. That香蕉视频直播檚 unacceptable.香蕉视频直播�

Zeiler said it was members of the Clean Streets Penticton Facebook group that played a significant role in gathering information leading to the arrest.

Clean Streets Penticton is a group of local residents who have signed up to a Facebook group and formed committees where citizens patrol neighbourhoods to try and improve public safety in and around Penticton.

On their Facebook page, it states: 香蕉视频直播淭he goal of this community group is to reduce the impacts of crime, violence and antisocial activity by providing support, information and assistance to any community members that request it. It is a secure forum to share information and decrease vulnerability through facilitation of connection to a supportive neighborhood organization.香蕉视频直播�

Zeiler said he香蕉视频直播檚 very thankful to anyone who may have played a role leading to an arrest in his stepson香蕉视频直播檚 case.

香蕉视频直播淚t was the Clean Streets Penticton people who found him,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey were the ones who found him and phoned the police to notify him where he was. They caught him right near where the assault happened.香蕉视频直播�

His stepson was released from hospital on Sunday and is feeling better, but he has a long road ahead of him to make a full recovery, he said.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 still got really bad headaches,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 getting migraines. He can香蕉视频直播檛 really do a lot. We take him outside the house for 10 minutes or so, so he can get some fresh air.

香蕉视频直播淲e have family staying with him all the time right now. The hospital said to not leave him alone and keep a close eye on him for a little bit (longer). We can香蕉视频直播檛 risk having him pass out with no one there.香蕉视频直播�

According to his stepfather, Vincent was cold-cocked by an unknown man when he was leaving the restaurant, after making a purchase. After being punched, he hit his head on the ground and suffered two brain bleeds.

The assailant was accompanied by a woman, who Vincent recognized. She allegedly stole his wallet and keys after the assault, he said.

Vincent was sent to Penticton Regional Hospital, but immediately rushed to Kelowna where they have brain specialists on site.

He holds down two part-time jobs 香蕉视频直播� Clancy香蕉视频直播檚 Liquor Store on Martin Street and the Barking Parrot at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

香蕉视频直播淰incent is much loved,香蕉视频直播� said Zeiler. 香蕉视频直播淗e also works part-time at the Barking Parrot (pub) and they香蕉视频直播檙e devastated by what香蕉视频直播檚 happened. `They can香蕉视频直播檛 do this to our Vinnie,香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檙e saying. Vincent香蕉视频直播檚 the kind of young guy that if someone had instead come up to him and said, `can you buy me 12 beer?,香蕉视频直播� he香蕉视频直播檇 probably say `sure香蕉视频直播� and do it for them.香蕉视频直播�

Zeiler and Vincent香蕉视频直播檚 mother first learned of the assault at 2:30 a.m. on Monday and immediately rushed to Kelowna.

It was a lousy Christmas for the family, but they remain optimistic.

It香蕉视频直播檚 anticipated he will be off work for up to six months. The family is unsure as to when he香蕉视频直播檒l be able to come home.

Vincent香蕉视频直播檚 sister Victoria Florence set up a GoFundMe page to help cover his loss of wages. The page was at $9,800 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Zeiler praised the medical system 香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渢hey did such an amazing job香蕉视频直播� with his stepson. 香蕉视频直播淭he doctors, nurses, ambulance staff香蕉视频直播� all 100 per cent professionals.香蕉视频直播�