Four men charged in connection with September assault in Abram-Village

East Prince RCMP has charged four men in connection with an assault that happened in AbramVillage in September.

The charges stem from an incident at the Evangeline Recreation Centre reported to police around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 3.

Responding officers learned that there had been an altercation in the parking lot following a Friday night dance at the Acadian Festival and Agricultural Exhibition.

Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, four men were arrested in connection with the altercation. All four were released on conditions.

Samuel Bernard, 25, of Urbainville, Troy Gallant, 28, of AbramVillage, and Darren Richard, 29, of Egmont Bay, have all been charged with assault.

Richard was also charged with uttering threats.

Tyson Arsenault, 23, of Wellington, has been charged with mischief.

The two victims, men aged 28 and 39, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and were released shortly after.

One of the victims was an employee at La Coopérative d'intégration francophone (CIF), while the other was a CIF client. Both victims were newcomers to Canada.

Although the two men sustained minor injuries, Kathleen Couture, executive director of the association des centres de la petite enfance francophones de l'Île-duPrince-Édouard (ACPEFIPE), said their mental health would need time to heal.

“They're really taking the time that they need to feel better and feel secure. Right now, they still feel insecure,” Couture previously told SaltWire Network.

“They still have a fear of going out in public, they have a fear of going to get groceries somewhere they might come across one of the assailants.”

On Sept. 4, the day after the assault, the CIF, in a written statement, condemned the attacks as “acts of racist violence.”

In the days following, other community members and organizations, including ACPEFIPE, Premier Dennis King, Evangeline-Miscouche MLA Sonny Gallant, Wellington Mayor Alcide Bernard and Abram-Village Mayor Roger Gallant echoed those sentiments.

“No matter how you identify, who you love, who you worship, what colour your skin is, where you are born, or what language you speak – everyone in this province has the right to celebrate who they are and who they desire to be,” wrote King in a Sept. 7 statement.

"The P.E.I. RCMP recognize that incidents like this have a profound effect beyond the individuals directly involved.

“We continue to work with the BIPOC community, and all Islanders, towards the common goal of building safer communities" said Const. Gavin Moore, media relations officer for the P.E.I. RCMP.

Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the altercation, captured images or video during the incident or who may have information that could help further the investigation contact the East Prince RCMP at 902-436-9300.