CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Cranston police are searching for an assault suspect who allegedly attacked a family member over Pokemon Go.
According to police, 44-year-old Kalada Fubara punched his niece, pulled her out of the driver’s seat of her car through the window and kicked her in the rib cage while she was on the ground.
Police said the assault happened over the weekend at a Pokemon ‘gym’ on Wellington Avenue – a virtual room represented by a real-life location. Police said Fubara invited his niece to come to the ‘gym’ – but didn’t want her to go inside.
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“Mr. Fubara indicated he was upset that she had entered this ‘room’ without his permission,” said Sgt. David Jubinville of the Cranston Police Department. “She indicated to him it was really a game and he became infuriated by this comment.”
Sgt. Jubinville said the situation unfolded as Fubara’s girlfriend and her two children were sitting in the car. The 22-year-old woman kept insisting that Pokemon Go is only a game – but police said the comments sent Fubara into an angry rage.
“Us, as a police department, we are troubled by it,” Jubinville added.
Police said Fubara punched his niece again about 20 minutes later at home when she refused to take back what she said.
“It is just a game and should be treated that way,” Jubinville said. “It makes it even worse that it’s a family member that came to this kind of situation.”
The niece was treated at Rhode Island Hospital on Sunday for bruises and hair loss but has since been released, police said.
Meanwhile, Fubara is still on the run.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact Cranston police.
