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Arrest made in violent assault outside Nanaimo tattoo shop

Video footage from businesses near the 100-block of Nicol Street, where the assault occurred, helped police identify a suspect, Nanaimo RCMP said
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A screenshot from surveillance video of the Oct. 8 assault outside a tattoo shop on Nicol Street in Nanaimo. VIA CHEK NEWS

A Nanaimo man has been arrested in connection with a violent assault on a man sitting outside a tattoo shop last month that left him with serious injuries.

Video footage from businesses near the 100-block of Nicol Street, where the Oct. 8 assault occurred, helped police identify a suspect, Nanaimo RCMP said Wednesday.

An arrest warrant for 45-year-old Brent Houle was issued Nov. 8, and he was arrested during an unrelated trespassing incident on Nov. 21, police say.

Houle, of no fixed address, has been remanded in police custody to await his next court appearance, which is set for Dec. 10.

A surveillance video obtained by CHEK News showed a group of people sitting on the sidewalk about 10:30 a.m.

Someone appears to punch the victim in the head, knocking him over. After several punches and kicks, the attacker stomps on the victim and drags him.

Police said at the time of the assault that the victim might have known his attacker because it was such a violent incident.

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