Oceanside RCMP has arrested a man after he unsheathed a machete in the presence of officers in Parksville on Tuesday.
In a report published Wednesday, Oceanside RCMP says the incident occurred on March 30 at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Police responded to the report that a “suspicious-looking” man had entered a local restaurant with a large machete sheathed on his side.
Police attended the scene, however, the man had left on foot prior to their arrival.
Shortly after, patrol officers were able to locate the man along Highway 19a, “near the orange bridge.”
According to the report, the man refused to acknowledge police direction and proceeded to unsheathe the machete around the responding officers.
RCMP says that multiple officers tried to deescalate the situation with the hostile man, but were unsuccessful.
The man then turned on the police and was yelling at the officers and encouraging them to shoot him.
The man proceeded to advance with the machete and “started slashing and stabbing at the hood of a police vehicle.”
Officers then deployed a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) on the 25-year-old, allowing them to advance on the man and arrest him safely.
Police say that neither the man or patrol officers suffered any injuries during the interaction.
This was a dynamic and dangerous situation involving a multi-member response. I’m proud of the way the officers responded and thankful it ended without any injuries,
says Cpl. Jesse Foreman.
Due to the nature of the call and the suspect’s apparently irrational behaviour, he was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Following his release from the hospital, the man will be taken into police custody.
Graham Cox
