Sault police upgrade assault charge against 18-year-old to attempted murder

One of two assault charges against a Sault Ste. Marie man, 18, has been upgraded to attempted murder after a violent attack with a bat last month, police say.

One of two assault charges against a Sault Ste. Marie man, 18, has been upgraded to attempted murder after a violent attack with a bat last month, police say.

The suspect is still in custody at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre after patrol officers came across a person on Cathcart Street who had been severely beaten the evening of June 23.

"An investigation revealed someone unknown to the victim, later identified as the accused, repeatedly struck them with a metal bat in the torso and head," police said in a news release.

"Shortly after midnight on June 24, officers attended an unrelated call for service where they located, and arrested, the accused."

While he was in custody on the first aggravated assault charge, police say an investigation revealed he had also hit a second person with a metal bat in the 600 block of Albert Street.

He was charged with assault with a weapon in that case.

The suspect was rearrested at the jail on the upgraded charge and still faces two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.