NEWS RELEASE
AbbyPD NEWS RELEASE: AbbyPD FILE 2019-6121 RELEASE # 1
DATE OF RELEASE: February 12, 2019
Incident: Suspect in custody after brief, violent crime spree
On February 9, 2019 at 9:29pm, Abbotsford Police patrol officers were called to the 2300 block of McCallum Road in response to a report of two people being assaulted with a weapon.
Upon police arrival, the victims stated that without any provocation, a man had chased
them and struck them with a metal pipe. The assailant, later identified as Johnathan
RATH, then threw the pipe at one of the victims and smashed a car window before fleeing on foot.
Within an hour of the assault, police were called to a robbery in progress at a liquor store on Montvue Ave. The suspect threatened store clerks with a knife while stealing cash and alcohol. Minutes later, at 10:34pm, patrol officers in downtown Abbotsford observed a male matching the description of the robbery suspect. The male, identified as Johnathan RATH, was arrested without incident.
Johnathan RATH, 37 years old, remains in custody charged with:
Assault with a weapon (2 counts)
Assault Causing Bodily Harm (2 counts)
Utter threats to cause death or bodily harm
Robbery with a weapon
Breach of court order x 4
The victims of the assault sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Sgt. Judy Bird………………………………………………………………….... Phone (604) 864-4899
Abbotsford Police Public Information Officer ……………………………………[email protected]
2838 Justice Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3P5 …………………………………...Fax: (604) 859-2527