Grande Prairie RCMP say an 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged following two violent assaults on popular walking trails earlier this spring.
According to police, Darius Dafoe, a resident of Grande Prairie, was taken into custody on June 10 after what investigators describe as a comprehensive investigation involving multiple RCMP units, the Grande Prairie Police Service, police dog services, and a forensic sketch artist.
Dafoe now faces several charges, including robbery, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm, and two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Police say the charges stem from two separate assaults reported on the Muskoseepi trail system in early May.
In those incidents, victims were struck in the head with a pipe by a suspect riding a bicycle. The victims did not know each other, and nothing was stolen, leading investigators to initially describe the attacks as random.
In a statement, Cpl. Kristy White of the Grande Prairie RCMP General Investigation Section thanked the public for its assistance, saying tips, video surveillance, and witness statements helped lead to the arrest.
Police say Dafoe has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie on June 17.
RCMP say they understand the impact the attacks have had on the community and are reassuring residents they remain committed to public safety