A 59-year-old man supervising air cadets distributing Remembrance Day poppies suffered life-altering injuries after a confrontation at a Hamilton restaurant, police say.

A 12-year-old boy and a 48-year-old woman have been charged with aggravated assault. The boy also faces an assault charge.

Police were called to 1223 Barton St. E. around 1:45 p.m. Nov. 1. CHCH identified the location as the Mandarin restaurant at The Centre on Barton.

According to investigators, two boys approached cadets collecting donations outside the restaurant and sounded an air horn directly into their ears. The adult supervising the cadets followed the boys inside to confront them.

Police allege a woman joined the ensuing struggle, assaulted the supervisor and caused him to fall. One boy then repeatedly struck him. The woman and youths left before officers arrived.

Paramedics took the injured man to hospital. Police have described his injuries as life-altering but have not publicly detailed their nature. 

In an interview with CBC’s Hanomansing Live, Hamilton police Supt. Michael Spencer said investigators seized video and interviewed witnesses to corroborate what the recording showed.

Spencer said investigators were still examining how the confrontation escalated. He declined to provide further medical details out of respect for the injured man’s privacy. 

Officers located the two boys at a nearby store after responding to a separate disturbance. The 12-year-old was arrested, while the woman was located and arrested the following morning.

The police release did not announce charges against the second boy or explain whether the woman knew either youth.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hamilton police investigators at 905-546-2907. hamiltonpolice.on.ca