Sarnia police are investigating a disturbing incident which saw a mother and her son pepper sprayed during an attempted robbery at a local park.
Officers responded to a call in the area of Maxwell St. and Kember Ave. around 11pm Thursday and were told that a 23-year-old mother, trying to get her 2-year-old son to go to sleep, had taken him for a walk when they were attacked.
Police say as she approached the swings, with the child in her arms, she felt a jerk on her purse, turned and was sprayed by a man with a black aerosol can.
The mother, police say, was able to hold onto her purse and run to her nearby home with her child and they were later transported to hospital. The suspect left in an unknown direction.
Police say both victims were treated at hospital, the child experienced breathing issues and pain, but both are doing better now.
Sarnia police are searching for a 20 to 30-year-old man, about 5'2" tall, with a skinny build and no facial hair. He's described as having short dirty blond hair and was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and appeared to have an overall messy look and bad body odour.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sarnia Police Detective Constable Heather Patterson at 519-344-8861 ext. 6105, or Detective Sergeant Michael Kahnert at 519-344-8861 ext. 6169 or Crime Stoppers.