Friends say downtown attack victim recovering

Friends of a man who was violently attacked this weekend are speaking out on his recovery.

Robert Carignan, 57, was riding his motorized scooter as he took his dog for a walk along Spadina Crescent Sunday morning when a man reportedly threatened and attacked him.

Police arrested a 25-year-old suspect after a brief foot chase. Officers charged Justin James Crowe with attempted murder and uttering threats.

Carignan was taken to Royal University Hospital in critical condition. His longtime friend David Logue spoke to 650 CKOM on the phone Monday from Carignan’s hospital room.

“The guy attacked him and he just looked him in the eye and told Robert that, ‘It’s your day to die,’” Logue said. “Robert had his dog with him, his dog Molly, and he told Robert he was going to kill the dog after he killed him.”

Logue, speaking on Carignan’s behalf, said the attacker jumped on Carignan’s back and chest before moving him to the curb where the beating continued.

“He didn’t give any rhyme or reason for the attack at all. He didn’t know Robert, Robert never saw him before,” Logue said, adding the attacker didn’t take his friend’s wallet or phone.

Police confirmed the attack was random Monday morning.

Logue said his friend lives near where the incident happened, and comes down to the area daily to take his dog along the same route with one exception Sunday – he slept in.

Logue said it’s not clear how the attack stopped, but Carignan had told him he last saw a cab driver arrive at the scene near 23rd Street.

“(Carignan) was semi-conscious at the time – and he doesn’t remember anything after that. So we’re just assuming the cab driver phoned it in or chased the guy away,” he said.

Logue said Carignan is able to speak, but he has a broken jaw, a fractured skull and bruising on his face, arms and legs. He was reportedly scheduled for jaw surgery Monday.

Jim Kozowy, one of Carignan’s friends, said the 57-year-old is a cancer survivor and has been recovered from injuries before.

“Robert is still pretty upbeat. He’s a real fighter, and for all the trauma this guy has been through in his life, he’s coming through this pretty good,” he said.

Kozowy said he is now caring for Molly, Carignan’s 13-year-old beagle, who was found unharmed near the scene of the attack.

“She was pretty traumatized. Brought her home last night and she’s kind of moping around,” Kozowy said.