Investigators with the Victoria Police Department are seeking out witnesses and possible video after an arrest was made on Monday that resulted in injuries to the suspect and two officers.
A police report says that the incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday morning. Frontline officers say they received a report about a man breaking into parking meters and pay stations in the area of Quadra and Courtenay streets.
When officers arrived in the area, they were able to locate the suspect, who fled on foot.
The man was caught by police near the intersection of Quadra and Broughton streets, however, when an officer tried to take the man into custody, he fought back.
“The man refused officers’ verbal commands and then began to fight with them,” reads a statement in the report.
Police note that a taser was deployed along with oleoresin capsicum spray in an attempt to stun the suspect, however, both tools were deemed ineffective.
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Police then utilized an ICS K9 team, with service dog Zender, to assist in apprehending the suspect and taking him into custody.
During the altercation, the suspect and two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect was treated at the scene, according to VicPD.
The man, who is from Vancouver, is said to have been the subject of nine police calls in the previous three days prior to Monday’s arrest.
He was transported to the hospital for a mental health assessment and held there under the Mental Health Act.
The man faces recommended charges for resisting arrest.
An investigation continues into the series of events leading up to the arrest and investigators are seeking any witnesses in the area or anyone with video. Witnesses are being asked to contact the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654, extension 1.
To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Graham Cox
