By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative/Penticton Herald

The stepfather of the man who was viciously assaulted outside a Penticton restaurant and sent to hospital with brain injuries is livid that the suspect arrested and charged with assault Monday evening was again walking free by Tuesday morning.

Steve Zeiler is also very upset at a press release issued by the Penticton RCMP Tuesday morning as it claimed the injuries his son suffered were 91裸聊视频渘on-life-threatening.91裸聊视频�

Zeiler noted his stepson, Vincent Florence, 28, suffered bleeding on the brain and had to be transferred for emergency surgery from Penticton Regional Hospital to Kelowna General Hospital because doctors were so worried about his condition following the assault.

The press release stated: 91裸聊视频淥n Dec. 22, shortly before 10:30 p.m., Penticton RCMP were called to a restaurant in the 2400 block of Skaha Lake Road, for an alleged assault.

91裸聊视频淭he investigation revealed that a 28-year-old man had been assaulted, resulting in serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

91裸聊视频淭he suspect was released on a police undertaking with conditions. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with the RCMP having recommended criminal charges to the BC Prosecution Service.

91裸聊视频淪hould anyone have information about this incident, they91裸聊视频檙e asked to contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300.91裸聊视频�

The man who has been arrested is almost twice the size of his stepson and it enrages him that he91裸聊视频檚 been released on conditions within hours following his arrest, said Zeiler.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 disappointed that this guy is out of jail obviously,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 also disappointed that the press release that stated 91裸聊视频榥on life-threatening injuries91裸聊视频�. I don91裸聊视频檛 know how much emergency brain surgery could be non life-threatening.91裸聊视频�

Zeiler said he91裸聊视频檚 been given the name of the individual who has been charged with assaulting his stepson.

The Herald has decided to not release the name until he makes his first court appearance.

Considering the physical harm caused to his stepson, Zeiler said the common assault charge is also upsetting and hopes a more serious charge is considered by the Crown in the future.

91裸聊视频淵ou spend more time sitting in the drunk tank in Penticton or any court system in this country than you do for a serious incident like this where my stepson could have been killed,91裸聊视频� he said.

He is close friends with a high-profile Penticton lawyer, who used to work as a Crown prosecutor in Vancouver.

91裸聊视频淪he told me that if she was handling this case in Vancouver when she was working for the Crown, she would have charged him with attempted murder,91裸聊视频� said Zeiler.

He91裸聊视频檚 been told by police the man charged was released with conditions and will remain free until a scheduled court appearance in May.

This only adds to the anger and frustration being felt by himself, his stepson, his entire family and a large group of supporters, said Zeiler.

91裸聊视频淰incent is terrified of this guy and you can91裸聊视频檛 really blame him,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got a whole town that basically knows this guy91裸聊视频檚 name. Everybody knows who it is and they can91裸聊视频檛 believe he91裸聊视频檚 being released back into society until May.

91裸聊视频淚t doesn91裸聊视频檛 seem like anybody is taking this seriously anymore. I don91裸聊视频檛 know what it is. It91裸聊视频檚 a revolving door in our court system. It91裸聊视频檚 disgusting.91裸聊视频�

Zeiler said he phoned the RCMP Monday evening after other people contacted him to inform him an arrest has been made.

91裸聊视频淭he police actually phoned other people that we know before they phoned the family,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey never even phoned us directly that they had arrested anybody. I91裸聊视频檓 the one who had to phone them because somebody phoned me and told me that they had made an arrest. They didn91裸聊视频檛 bother phoning us. They didn91裸聊视频檛 phone us at all.

91裸聊视频淚 phoned there last night (Monday) and I didn91裸聊视频檛 get a phone call back. That91裸聊视频檚 unacceptable.91裸聊视频�

Zeiler said it was members of the Clean Streets Penticton Facebook group that played a significant role in gathering information leading to the arrest.

Clean Streets Penticton is a group of local residents who have signed up to a Facebook group and formed committees where citizens patrol neighbourhoods to try and improve public safety in and around Penticton.

On their Facebook page, it states: 91裸聊视频淭he goal of this community group is to reduce the impacts of crime, violence and antisocial activity by providing support, information and assistance to any community members that request it. It is a secure forum to share information and decrease vulnerability through facilitation of connection to a supportive neighborhood organization.91裸聊视频�

Zeiler said he91裸聊视频檚 very thankful to anyone who may have played a role leading to an arrest in his stepson91裸聊视频檚 case.

91裸聊视频淚t was the Clean Streets Penticton people who found him,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey were the ones who found him and phoned the police to notify him where he was. They caught him right near where the assault happened.91裸聊视频�

His stepson was released from hospital on Sunday and is feeling better, but he has a long road ahead of him to make a full recovery, he said.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 still got really bad headaches,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 getting migraines. He can91裸聊视频檛 really do a lot. We take him outside the house for 10 minutes or so, so he can get some fresh air.

91裸聊视频淲e have family staying with him all the time right now. The hospital said to not leave him alone and keep a close eye on him for a little bit (longer). We can91裸聊视频檛 risk having him pass out with no one there.91裸聊视频�

According to his stepfather, Vincent was cold-cocked by an unknown man when he was leaving the restaurant, after making a purchase. After being punched, he hit his head on the ground and suffered two brain bleeds.

The assailant was accompanied by a woman, who Vincent recognized. She allegedly stole his wallet and keys after the assault, he said.

Vincent was sent to Penticton Regional Hospital, but immediately rushed to Kelowna where they have brain specialists on site.

He holds down two part-time jobs 91裸聊视频� Clancy91裸聊视频檚 Liquor Store on Martin Street and the Barking Parrot at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

91裸聊视频淰incent is much loved,91裸聊视频� said Zeiler. 91裸聊视频淗e also works part-time at the Barking Parrot (pub) and they91裸聊视频檙e devastated by what91裸聊视频檚 happened. `They can91裸聊视频檛 do this to our Vinnie,91裸聊视频� they91裸聊视频檙e saying. Vincent91裸聊视频檚 the kind of young guy that if someone had instead come up to him and said, `can you buy me 12 beer?,91裸聊视频� he91裸聊视频檇 probably say `sure91裸聊视频� and do it for them.91裸聊视频�

Zeiler and Vincent91裸聊视频檚 mother first learned of the assault at 2:30 a.m. on Monday and immediately rushed to Kelowna.

It was a lousy Christmas for the family, but they remain optimistic.

It91裸聊视频檚 anticipated he will be off work for up to six months. The family is unsure as to when he91裸聊视频檒l be able to come home.

Vincent91裸聊视频檚 sister Victoria Florence set up a GoFundMe page to help cover his loss of wages. The page was at $9,800 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Zeiler praised the medical system 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频渢hey did such an amazing job91裸聊视频� with his stepson. 91裸聊视频淭he doctors, nurses, ambulance staff91裸聊视频� all 100 per cent professionals.91裸聊视频�