While Georgy Kapustin says he didn’t want to speculate on why he was attacked, medical conditions associated with his dwarfism mean head strikes can cause severe brain injury
A Barrie man who’s running in the city council was brutally assaulted at a south-end bar Friday night, leaving him injured and confused as to the nature of the attack.
Georgy Kapustin, an Uber driver and a candidate in Ward 10, suffered cuts and a black eye after two people harassed and assaulted him while he was at the pool table.
City police confirmed that a man was assaulted at an establishment in the Prince William Way area shortly before 10 p.m. on Oct. 9.
“Two unknown individuals allegedly assaulted a male following a verbal dispute. He was transported to the hospital with minor injuries,” spokesperson Kim Phillips said.
Kapustin says he was taken to hospital with injuries to his head and face, requiring “several stitches.”
“Because of medical conditions associated with my dwarfism, blows to my head can pose an especially serious risk and can cause severe brain injury,” he added.
Kapustin says he does not want to speculate about whether the assault was connected to his election campaign, work as a part-time Uber driver or simply due to a case of mistaken identity.
His vehicle is covered in a wrap advertising his candidacy in the municipal election, he noted.
Georgy Kapustin is an Uber driver who is running for a city council seat in Barrie’s Ward 10. | Image supplied
Kapustin said he is in shock after what happened.
“I was so surprised because I get approached by people all the time and they would say, ‘oh, we know you’re running (in the election)’, or sometimes they know know that I’m an Uber driver, ‘because you drove our friend,’ and so on, and so that’s why I’m always approachable. And that’s why I was so shocked by that,” he said Tuesday afternoon.
The harassment at the bar came from a woman and then a man assaulted him, unprovoked, Kapustin says.
Kapustin is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the assault, and may know who the two people are, to contact city police.
Kapustin described the pair as being in their mid-20s with Latin features.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 705-725-7025.