January 22 Kamloops

A crisp breeze blew down the streets of Kamloops as I parked my truck in a small lot in the downtown core. I was working in the mid-sized city in the heartland of BC. As I exited my truck I felt the chill winter air of a January day. I walked towards the front of my Chevy Dually and headed for the management company inside the building in front of me. I was there to drop off a business card and see if I could find some more jobs in the working-class city.

I’m not sure exactly what it is but Kamloops has a different vibe than Kelowna. It has an energy that is more transient and less of a tourist destination. It’s in no small part due to its location as a crossroads on the Trans Canada Highway.

“Can you help me?” The young man’s voice broke into my thoughts. He stood in front of my truck on the sidewalk of the small strip mall.

“What happened?” Came my cautious reply. I had barely noticed the small man standing there, his glasses fogging up from the mask on his face. I stopped and took in his appearance. He was of east asian or possibly middle eastern descent. He was dressed warmly and wore a new looking backpack. He had on a pair of black army style boots, one of which had duct tape on the top. He was distraught and I stood back waiting for his reply.

“Two guys just beat me up and took my wallet.” He stammered. “Can you help me?”

What did this guy want me to do? Did he expect me to go charging off and get his wallet back for him? “Why don’t you call the police?” I asked him as I turned to go on with my day.

“They stole my phone too.”

“Where did they go with it?” My curiosity and sympathy were taking me to a place I wasn’t sure I should go.

“They are just around the corner, they beat me up and took my stuff. Can you come to help me get it back?” He turned and started toward the main drag that runs through the downtown core of the working-class city.

Following the poor man, I grabbed my phone and googled the number for the Kamloops police department. I wasn’t sure if I should dial 911 so I pressed the link to call the local RCMP detachment. “RCMP what is the nature of your call?” Came a reassuring voice on the other end of the line.

“Hello, I am here with a guy who says he was just robbed of his wallet and phone,” I told the lady on the line. We walked toward where the poor victim led me. His assailants were apparently still nearby.

“OK, I will put you through to dispatch and they will send someone there.” The line rang through and we continued to walk slowly toward the building next door. I stopped and looked for an address.

The young man halted and pointed to two young white guys standing next to shopping carts in front of a store displaying a green marijuana leaf on it. “They are the guys who have my wallet.”

Just then a voice came on the phone in my hand. “RCMP what is the nature of your emergency?”

“I’m here with this guy who says he was just robbed of his phone and wallet. There are two guys standing next to shopping carts filled with stuff. The guy says they are the ones that took it.” I’m sure I sounded a little confused. I felt a bit concerned but was sure I was safe enough because we were in the open on a major roadway. “ We are at 230 Lansdowne Street.” I gave the address to the dispatcher on the line.

“Can you ask the victim his name, don’t give him your phone just ask him for his name.” The voice on the line calmly asked me. I put the phone on speaker so my new friend could hear the words.

“Mahid Sayad,” he spoke up and quickly spelled his name for the dispatcher on the line.

The wind increased and I took my phone off speakerphone to hear the muffled instruction from the lady on the other end. “Can you repeat that?” I asked.

“Can you please stay with the victim until we get an officer on the scene? There should be someone there soon.”

At that point, the two guys with the shopping carts looked over at us. “You stole my phone from the Mustard Seed last week.” They pointed at Mahid.

“I have never even been to the Mustard seed, you took my phone and wallet and I want it back.” The meek young man seemed afraid to get close but didn’t want to give in to his fear.

The assailants looked at us dismissively and walked off down the road and across the street.

“They’re moving, they just crossed the street and went into the alley.” Mahid crossed the road in pursuit. I stood there a little uncertain, should I continue this chase or let the police come and find them? Curious and concerned for the little man’s safety I followed.

“Where are they now?” The voice on the line was still there with me.

“They are in the alley between Lansdowne and Victoria streets. They are going in behind a dumpster.” I felt a little unsure as I walked slowly towards the alley. ”One is wearing a grey hoody with a black jacket over top the other is taller and wearing a light grey hoody and a ball cap. They are both white, skinny, and in their early twenties.” I wanted to give my ally on the phone a good description of the perpetrators in case we lost them.

“Are they carrying any weapons?”

“I didn’t see any.” I turned to Mahid,” Are they armed?”

“I think they have a knife.” He replied.

I passed this info to the girl on the phone. Where were the police? It had been a few minutes; if this was an urgent situation, I wouldn’t want it to take this long.

“There should be an officer on the scene any minute. “ Came a reassuring voice in my ear.

“They are walking back to the road and out towards Victoria Street.” I started to feel like I was in a movie scene. The bad guys were getting away and we jogged to the end of the alley to make sure we didn’t lose them in the crowd of people. It was midday and despite covid the city centre was bustling with traffic.

“There they are,” my diminutive companion pointed across the road.

“The two guys pushing shopping carts just crossed the intersection and are at the corner where the Mcdonald’s is.” I rattled off into the phone as I caught my breath.

“There should be a police car coming up to you right now.” My ally on the phone seemed to almost question herself.

She was right and I spotted a blue ghost car idle up to us on the side of the road. I waved him down. He stopped and open the window.

“Hello did you call for the police?” The cop looked at us as we stood there on the side of the road.

“Yes,” Didn’t this guy see me wave him down? “Officer this guy says he was beaten and robbed.” I turned to my companion who meekly nodded to the cop.

“Yes, officer those two men took my wallet and phone.” Mahid pointed across the street at the McDonalds.

I said goodbye to the dispatcher on the phone, she thanked me and wished me a good day. I turned back to the cop, ”Do you need me anymore?”

“Thanks, I think I can take it from here.” 

I turned and left. I felt chilled by the cool winter breeze and the end of my sudden adventure with downtown Kamloops.

I returned to my truck grateful to not live on the streets in the bowels of a city in the winter. Happy, I was lucky enough to have a home and a life that didn’t depend on stealing. Inside my head, I thanked my parents and my luck that am not shuffling around pushing a shopping cart. I hope my kid escapes such an awful fate.

To people like this, Covid is a distant reality. The worst pressing matter they have is the next meal. Was Mahid telling me the truth? Did these strangers jump him and take his wallet? Or was he looking for some attention and recognition? I wasn’t sure.

When I drove past the McDonalds half an hour later one of the guys with the shopping cart was still hanging there in front of the doorway.

I felt ok with myself and what I did, I hope I helped a young man in need. In today’s world, I think it is more important than ever to help those that can’t help themselves.