40-year-old man charged after downtown Saskatoon attack

It was between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on July 14 when Cole Chorney and his wife decided to take a walk along Spadina Cr. in downtown Saskatoon. They had just had dinner at a local steakhouse and were staying in a downtown hotel.

The couple says says they walked past Kiwanis Park and crossed at 22 St. E. when suddenly his wife yelled out to him.

“I didn’t see, my wife did at first, and all she did was yell ‘Cole run!’ And she started to go,” Chorney told Gormley with guest host Mike Couros. “I turned around and saw him. He then lunged towards me- (I) didn’t realize what was in his hand until I jumped out of the way. He had a knife,” said Chorney.

The father-to-be had his pants slashed and was superficially cut by the knife. He said the man began mumbling something to him but eventually put his knife away and walked back towards Kiwanis Park. No one else was hurt.

Chorney’s wife immediately called for police who came quickly.

“They were able to catch the man,” he said.

Saskatoon Police confirm that a 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Chorney said while the physical attack didn’t hurt him, he and his wife are now suffering mentally.

“I catch myself thinking more and more about it and what could have been- and that’s what’s worrying me most… she’s (wife) is definitely having the same thoughts too. Luckily not too much physical damage, but I’m starting to struggle with it more.”

Chorney said from now on, he and his wife would feel safer in a group if they head into downtown Saskatoon.