A disturbing confrontation nine days ago in Raspberry Park between a solitary 14-year-old teen and a gang of seven youths has resulted in RCMP laying assault with a weapon charges against two alleged assailants.
The incident, which left the teen battered, bloodied and alone on a street, has not only angered and shocked the family it has hardened their resolve not to give in to bullies.
“They made me angry that they did that to me. They shouldn't get away with it,” said Aidan Remple, a Grade 9 home-school student, who wants to send a clear message he will never bow to bullies. “They may have had the power over me when they were beating me up. Now I have the power over them to make things right.”
Innisfail RCMP pursued the case aggressively immediately after the attack. Last Thursday Mounties announced the arrest of two 14-year-old male teens and were pursing a third suspect.
“We have him identified and we're looking to speak, locate, and process him,” said Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Jeff Hildebrandt, who added that the weapon used in the incident was a longboard stolen from Aidan. “In the event that uncooperation is maintained we will be getting a warrant for an arrest.”
The two charged youths will make their first court appearance in Red Deer provincial family court on Oct. 3.
The incident, according to Aiden, began before 8 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he and another friend were in the park with their longboards. He said his friend attempted to speak to an older boy in the park but was warned his jaw would be broken.
The older boy left the park but returned with six others – including one girl -- about 45 minutes later and his friend fled, said Aidan.
“I had seen them before at the park by the woods doing drugs and stuff,” said Aidan of the older teens.
He said he was sitting on his longboard and the gang of seven came out of an alley and walked towards him, ordering him to get up.
As Aidan rose from his longboard he was attacked and his longboard taken.
“I was hit on the back of the head with my longboard and it put me on the ground,” said Aidan. “They picked me up off the ground, put me on the road and repeatedly pummelled me.
“The girl was standing by and chanting, ‘Keep on punching, keep it up',” he added.
Aidan said the attack lasted somewhere between one and two minutes. In the meantime, at least two cars drove by and when one man stopped to help Aidan the teen gang fled with his longboard.
“I had crawled over to the grass. I was screaming for help and the man came, and then another,” said Aidan, whose father arrived at the scene within minutes as more and more people came to check on the battered teen.
Daren Remple said he was shocked when he arrived at the scene to see his son's bloodied head being gently cradled in the hands of neighbour Wayne Strabel.
“It was so frightening. He was a bloody mess. When I saw the back of his head it was scary,” said Daren, who along with his wife Jenn gave the Province permission to interview and publicly identify their son and family to show they will not bend to intimidation. “This attack is definitely bullying and intimidation. You got six or seven kids against one.”
Shortly after RCMP and an ambulance arrived at the scene, Aidan was taken to hospital for treatment of a large wound on the back of his head. He received stitches to close the wound and was released.
In the days following the attack and before the arrests, family members were further angered by what they believed was taunting and lack of remorse from the teens they believed were responsible for the attack on Aidan.
“What is upsetting is that they drove by the house and they flipped the bird at Aidan,” said Daren, who also saw a disturbing screen capture of a Facebook post by one of the alleged assailants.
The posting, which has since been removed from the social media site, mocked the RCMP's efforts to apprehend the suspects.
“Not even hiding from the cops and they still can't find me, hurry up so u can waste some more of everyones time,” said the Facebook post.
Daren said he called the parents of one of the alleged assailants and was told that his son had a mark on his face as a result of the confrontation with Aiden.
“I was very angry. I get it that these boys are their kids but my son has a hole in his head. It was seven against one,” said Daren.
See editorial page 6
