Faron Hall, Winnipeg’s ‘homeless hero,’ was assaulted Saturday afternoon at his apartment on Marion Street.
Police say a male and female were present with Hall when the trio became involved in a verbal dispute. The two allegedly assaulted Hall and fled the apartment around 3:25 p.m.
Hall, 45, was conveyed to hospital in unstable condition, but has since been upgraded to serious, but stable condition.
31-year-old Geraldine Ruth Colomb has been charged with aggravated assault.
This wasn’t the first time crime has affected Hall in recent months — on Christmas Eve, he was beaten up by a group of people he said recognized him from the media attention over the last year.
Faron Hall first grabbed headlines when he rescued a boy from the Red River in May 2009. Hall risked his life again in September 2009, when he rescued a woman from the river.
Mayor Sam Katz presented Hall with the Mayor’s Medal of Valour for the bravery he displayed relating to the May incident.
Hall was awarded again in December 2009 by the Manitoba Lifesaving Association and presented a grant in conjunction with The Winnipeg Foundation.
UPDATE: Earlier reports suggested Hall had been stabbed, but police confirm he was badly beaten, not stabbed.
UPDATE #2: Monday, Feb. 8 — Police have arrested and charged a second suspect in the assault. 31-year-old Darrell Walter Longclaws has been charged with aggravated assault and breach of probation.
