A man in his 30s is facing six charges after a bizarre crime spree culminated with the suspect slashing a cyclist with a knife just outside Victoria Police headquarters on Tuesday.
The attack occurred just before 8 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Caledonia Avenue and Quadra Street.
Police say the cyclist was approached by the suspect and then slashed by the knife after they had biked past him. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, the man was arrested at the scene. Police add that as officers investigated the incident, they learned that the suspect had also entered a childcare facility in the downtown area about one hour before the stabbing.
Inside the childcare facility, the man reportedly stole a tablet and pulled the building’s fire alarm before leaving.
No children are believed to have been inside at the time.
Even so, police say the incident is concerning and that VicPD is working with families and staff of the childcare facility.
“It’s shocking, you never expect something like that to happen,” said VicPD spokesperson Griffen Hohl on Tuesday.
“When events like this happen, it is concerning and something we take seriously because it does have an impact on our collective sense of security and safety,” he said.
Court records show that Daniel Thomas Phelps, born in 1985, has been charged with six offenses, including assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief, theft under $5,000 and false alarm of a fire.
His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 25.
With files from CHEK’s Mackenzie Read
Adam Chan
