A View Royal man is facing an assault charge after a man was found beaten and unconscious in a low-income hotel in the Rock Bay area of Victoria.
Jason van Winkle, 35, is charged with aggravated assault and had a tele-bail hearing today. Victoria police arrested Van Winkle at City Metro Suites, at 2828 Rock Bay Ave.
Police arrived at the hotel around 3 a.m. Wednesday after reports of a loud commotion in a room. They found a 41-year-old Victoria resident unconscious, not breathing and lacking all vital signs.
Police performed CPR until paramedics arrived and restarted the man's breathing. He was rushed to Victoria General Hospital and remains in critical condition with head injuries.
Investigators aren't sure whether the injured man and suspect knew each other, but the assailant, the victim and several witnesses were found in the room. Sgt. Grant Hamilton said no weapons were involved in the assault.
Van Winkle is well known to police as a petty criminal and has previous convictions that include assault, possession of stolen property, drug trafficking, and break and enter.