Esquimalt Division officers with the Victoria Police Department have taken one youth into custody for mischief following a short bicycle chase on Thursday night.
A police report suggests that the officers, who are part of the Esquimalt Summer Action Plan, interrupted a mischievous act in progress, which led to the arrest of one of the members involved.
The patrol was being undertaken by a couple of Esquimalt Division Community Resource Officers, deployed on bicycles. The summer action plan that they were a part of is an initiative by the Victoria Police Department in an effort to proactively mitigate general disorder in the township during the next few months.
On Thursday evening, the proactive patrol discovered a group tagging near the intersection of Lamspon Street and Wurtele Place.
The people involved fled the scene, resulting in what officers are describing as a “brief bicycle chase,” and leading to one arrest.
Investigators are working to determine the ages of all involved before determine the next steps.
According to the Victoria Police Department, the Esquimalt Summer Action Plan program will run until Sept. 5 and have officers deployed in areas where disorder tends to arise more frequently during the summer months.
VicPD says the program’s goal will be achieved by “having a highly visible uniformed presence before and during peak hours, having a zero-tolerance for alcohol-related offences, and by targeting known offenders and problem areas.”
The program, which was started in 2007, will focus on areas around the Esquimalt Recreation Centre, Esquimalt Plaza, area Parks, Beaches and the Vic West Skate Park.
Victoria Police highlighted in today’s press release that residents should “feel free to wave hello” if they see the Esquimalt officers around.
CHEK News
