Saanich police say they are investigating after an e-bike rider was struck and a pellet gun was produced during a hit-and-run Tuesday morning.
Police said they were called at around 7:30 a.m.
A complainant, who lives in the 600-block of Gorge Road West, told police he saw a suspicious man on his property and followed the man toward the street. He then saw another man standing out front.
Police said both men walked on foot toward the Gorge Road and Dysart Road intersection where they joined a third man in a red Ford F150 pickup.
According to police, the complainant, who was on his electric bicycle, attempted to intervene and the suspect vehicle did a U-Turn to head toward Victoria. The driver of the truck hit the man on his e-bike, crushing the bike under the truck.
The complainant was knocked off the bike and sustained minor injuries. Police said the suspects were seen removed wood from the rear of the truck to lift the truck off the e-bike. The suspects then fled the scene toward Victoria.
Det. Staff Sgt. Chris Horsley said what appeared to be a handgun was produced after the complainant was struck. Police said they determined this was a pellet gun but “the manner in which it was produced is still under investigation.”
“Whether it fell out of the truck, whether it fell out of a pocket, we’re still not sure how it came into the scene here,” Horsley said.
The complainant had the pellet gun in his possession when police arrived.
BC Hydro, EHS and Saanich fire also responded to the call. Police said BC Hydro was needed as the truck also hit a hydro box, knocking it off the concrete base. BC Hydro crews then had to de-energize the electrical box.
Police said they are interviewing the victim and are looking for any other witnesses who saw the collision and interaction or saw the men prior to the incident. Saanich police’s non-emergency line is 250-475-4321.
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