A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old have been charged with a string of charges, including aggravated assault, in the violent attack of two staff members at the treatment centre north of Selkirk.
Jackie Healey, a Red River College student, is one of two staff members who were seriously injured in the assault Sunday night at the Behavioural Health Foundation on Breezy Point Road.
Healey was completing a work practicum at the addictions and mental health treatment facility.
The victim’s sister, Jamie Healey, said Jackie was in an office and pushed a dresser across the door to protect herself before the attack.
Jamie said her sister called 911 and pulled a fire alarm before she was badly beaten with a baseball bat and pool balls covered in socks.
She said that’s the last thing her sister remembers until she regained consciousness.
“She woke up seeing RCMP walking in and she was waving her hands for help,” Jamie said. “She’s happy to be alive and for her coworker to be alive.”
Jamie said Jackie has no vision in one eye and required stitches.
Conor Lloyd, a spokesperson from Red River College, said the school has launched an internal investigation and has reached out to Healey’s family.
“It’s something that you never want to see happen in any workplace,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd said it’s too early to say what effect the attack will have on future practicums.
A written statement from RRC stated: “Our hearts go out to our student and her family as well as the other worker who was attacked. We have been in touch with the RCMP and will cooperate fully, additionally, we have launched our own internal investigation into the matter. As such, it is too early to speculate about what exactly happened until we have all the facts. Our priority, right now is on ensuring the ongoing safety and support of our students and staff.”
In release on Wednesday afternoon, the RRC said they are hiring an external investigator to launch an investigation into all circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The investigation will look at the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s attack. The investigation will determine whether the employer was meeting the terms of the agreement that RRC had in place, whether sufficient security and training was provided to the student while on her work placement, and whether the facility met the required standards and expectations that RRC has with our practicum sites,” said the release.
RCMP said a 16-year-old male was arrested shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, and a 17-year-old male was taken into custody just before 2 a.m. Tuesday.
An investigation is ongoing.
