Armed robbery suspect arrested in Saanich with help from GVERT, crisis negotiators

Traffic was disrupted and a man was arrested after he barricaded himself in a Saanich apartment building Sunday, a day after police say he allegedly robbed two teens at gunpoint.

Victoria police say officers began searching for the man at around 8 p.m. Saturday following a report that he robbed the youths in the 3100-block of Douglas Street, producing a firearm and stealing “a number of personal items” from them. There were no injuries reported in the robbery.

Members of the Victoria and Saanich police departments, as well as a canine unit, responded but could not locate the suspect after he fled on a bike.

Then on Sunday, officers learned the man was in a suite in a multi-unit building in the 3200-block of Douglas Street.

Traffic was shut down in the area for more than an hour as police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Time were called in, including crisis negotiators.

Eventually the man surrendered to police without incident and traffic was reopened on Douglas Street at around 2:10 p.m.

Police alos arrested a second occupant of the suite, who was later released at the scene.

The man was brought to Victoria police holding cells and held in custody pending further investigation.

Police said there was no risk to the public during the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 250-995-7654 extension 1 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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