Police are asking the community's help in finding two suspects that put a woman through what they're calling a "terrifying" ordeal.On Sunday (April 27) at approximately 3:30 a.m., a 44-year-old woman cycling past the Canadian Tire on Mamquam Road spotted two young men harassing and throwing rocks at a man was rummaging through a clothing recycle bin. In a "Good Samaritan" act, the woman attempting to stop the young thugs, according to RCMP Cpl. Dave Ritchie. But her actions backfired."They turned their focus and anger towards her," stated an RCMP news release, "and the male was able to climb out of the box and run off."The young men took the woman by the arms and forced her inside the box. The woman didn't resist as forcefully as she could have, believing the box could protect her from further injury, said Ritchie. But she hadn't counted on what happened next."They pushed the bin over onto the pavement, which blocked the only access door and ultimately trapped the woman inside," states the news release.It wasn't until 9:15 a.m. that a citizen waiting for the store to open observed the tipped over clothing donation bin noticed the box moving. "When he approached the bin he heard a voice inside and summoned help," states the RCMP news release.RCMP and Squamish Search and Rescue released the woman and helped her to get treated for mild hypothermia and a deep cut to her knee."It's a very serious, terrifying act and kind of a thuggish, bullish act on their part," said Ritchie. "And it just seemed that they were out on a little bit of a rampage, so I don't know if they were involved in drugs as well, but there's certainly alcohol that played a factor."The men are also believed to be responsible for other acts of vandalism in the area at the time. RCMP spent the night responding to reports of shopping carts and rocks thrown onto Highway 99, fence panels being kicked in and a vehicle damaged by rocks at the Boston Pizza restaurant. Similar descriptions of the suspects were reported in each case. The two suspects are described as 16 to 20 years old, one wearing jeans a white hooded jacket and with short dark hair. The other male was wearing brown corduroy pants a white t-shirt and had medium to long blond curly hair and may have been wearing a black hooded jacket. Both males were wearing running shoes. RCMP has a few items in hand to help with investigation, said Ritchie."We have some stuff seized for fingerprinting, the bike that they moved and liquor bottles, so we're doing some forensic follow-up. "And if they want to come and speak to us, and be a little remorseful, we'd appreciate that too." RCMP is asking the person initially being harassed while in the recycle bin to contact the detachment.And anyone with information on the identity of these two suspects is asked to contact the Squamish RCMP detachment at 604-892-6100 or report anonymously to CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-8477.
