Multiple Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team members and Victoria Police were in an armed standoff with at least one suspect early Monday morning.
Footage captured by viewers and CHEK News shows multiple GVERT and VicPD officers outside of an apartment complex on Simcoe Street. Residents say the incident began just before 8 a.m.
“It was quite a scary situation for sure,” said Joe Gayton, who lives at the apartment complex.
Photos sent in showed officers deploying police dogs and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal device. Gayton says he also saw a drone used by police.
Residents say that one suspect was inside the building’s garbage room before being surrounded by police. Officers had long rifles and directed the suspect out of the room before he was taken into custody.
CHEK News has sent requests to Victoria Police for more information but has not heard back.
“I heard over a loudspeaker ‘Come out, put your hands up!’ then I heard a lot of screaming, commotion, some dogs barking,” said David Drew, who lives nearby.
Police blocked off a portion of the complex parking lot until around 11 a.m. Officers were seen carrying out two bags from the garbage room and taken into the back of a cruiser. One of the bags was carrying tools.
Gayton says he’s lived at the complex for five years and has never witnessed an incident like this. He has concerns for his safety and others moving forward.
“A lot of them are older than myself, so yeah, the safety concern is quite high right now,” said Gayton.
Oli Herrera
