On January 6, CTV News reported that a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church had been attacked while praying in the Adoration Chapel.

The man who had been praying in the Adoration Chapel of the church had suffered an attempted strangulation by his assailant.

The chapel is open 24 hours a day, with a code given to those who want to get into the church to pray.

Sarnia Deputy Chief Ron Hansen explained to CTV News that the assailant had used what seemed to be a rope or a belt against the victim.

While in the struggle, the victim managed to free himself and escape from the attacker. The assailant tried to destroy the video camera and ultimately fled before the police arrived on scene.

Police were able to identify the man using video surveillance and a search ensued. The search did not last long seeing as the man himself showed up at an OPP station.

The man, 38-years old is now facing up to four counts including assault causing bodily harm by strangulation, choking or suffocation.

Police think that the man also knew the code to get into the chapel. Following this attack, security protocols are being reviewed for safety and for the chapel to be open all day or not.

Deputy Chief Hansen also explained of another incident in a Macdonald’s where another individual had been attacked while asleep. He states that the police and the church want the public to know it is safe to come and pray even though the attack is a troubling and traumatic thing for the victim.