Two men face 22 charges after man and woman assaulted and forcibly confined

Police have charged two Halifax men after a man and a woman were forcibly confined and assaulted on July 19 in Halifax. Police are looking for a third suspect, a Halifax man, in relation to the incident.

At 10:45 p.m. police responded to a report of an assault in progress in the 2300 block of Brunswick Street. Upon arrival, officers gained entry to a residence to discover the two suspects, the male victim and a woman. Another man involved in the incident had left the residence prior to police arrival.

The victims, a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, both of Halifax, had been held in the apartment for several hours and had been threatened and assaulted during their confinement by two men who had entered the apartment just after midnight on July 19 and another man who had entered the apartment sometime later. The woman was able to leave the residence and seek help just prior to police arrival. Both victims were treated at the scene by EHS for non-life-threatening injuries. This incident is not believed to be a random act.

Police arrested Scott Blair and Thomas Hendsbee, both 45, at the scene without incident. Both appeared in Halifax Provincial Court on July 20.

Blair faces a total of 12 charges:

• 2 x unlawful confinement
• 1 x possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• 2 x assault with a weapon
• 2 x uttering threats
• 1 x assault
• 3 x breach of probation
• 1 x breach of a recognizance

Hendsbee faces a total of 10 charges:

• 2 x unlawful confinement
• 1 x possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• 3 x assault with a weapon
• 2 x uttering threats
• 1 x assault

Officers are seeking a third suspect in the incident, described as a black man with a light complexion, 5’9”, weighing 130-140 lbs.

Update: Mr. Hendsbee was charged with two counts ofpossession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and not one as previously indicated.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to call 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), submitting a secure web tip atwww.crimestoppers.ns.ca or via the P3Tips App.

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Source : Media Release