Byron Holbein was in the Yukon capital for a critical medical appointment in mid April when he says he was attacked An alleged bear spray attack in downtown Whitehorse has changed a Watson Lake man’s view of safety in the Yukon capital for the worse — much worse. Byron Holbein was in Whitehorse ahead of a medical appointment on April 14 when he says he was bear sprayed in the face and robbed by two men. He described the men approaching him as he was walking back from a pharmacy to the motel he was staying at near the corner of Jarvis Street and 4th Avenue. He says the men demanded he give them what he had and one said he was armed before promptly producing a can of bear spray and spraying Holbein in the face. “I went down to the ground like, and they grabbed my gold chain and my gold bracelet from my wrist. But they literally, like ripped them off, and I went across the street to try and get away, but I couldn’t see,” Holbein said. He says one of the two men was affected by the bear spray and was still in the area when police arrived following a call by a bystander but was not arrested. Paramedics gave Holbein baby shampoo and water to flush away the bear spray. He was still in pain when speaking with the News the morning after the incident. Holbein uses a cane and is undergoing treatment for heart trouble and cancer. Along with what he says was stolen from him, Holbein is dealing with the effects of having to reschedule the medical appointment he was in Whitehorse for. “I just had heart surgery down in Vancouver and I was up there [in Whitehorse] for a follow up appointment at the hospital, and I didn’t even make it to my appointment,” he said. “And it just sucks that, you know, I really need these medical appointments, but I don’t know, man, I don’t want to go,” he said. The incident has left him feeling unsafe in Whitehorse and he has arranged subsequent medical travel in a way that ensures he doesn’t have to spend a night in the city, despite medical advice to the contrary. The RCMP have confirmed they are investigating the April 14 incident but have shared few details. Holbein says he was told police would be seeking his help identifying the perpetrators, but he says he hadn’t been shown a promised photo lineup as of May 1. Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
Watson Lake man says alleged bear spray attack has left him feeling unsafe in Whitehorse
