An over two-kilometre trail of blood led Victoria police to a person suffering “significant” medical and mental distress, concluding an hours-long search on Saturday.
At around 8:45 a.m., VicPD officers were called to a bus stop in the 1200-block of Esquimalt Road after a passerby reportedly found a large pool of blood.
As officers investigated, they discovered the trail extended throughout the neighbourhood, according to VicPD in a news release Tuesday.
A photo captured by CHEK News shows an investigator photographing blood on the sidewalk in front of the Archie Browning Sports Centre at 1151 Esquimalt Rd.
“Concerned that a person may be suffering from potentially life-threatening injuries and after confirming that no one with potentially related injuries was in hospital, officers began an extensive search,” police said.
Officers from VicPD’s Forensic Identification Section and Community Engagement Division responded and, during their search, were approached by residents who had spotted blood elsewhere.
“Officers, both on foot and in vehicles, traced a trail that extended over two kilometres across the Township of Esquimalt, into Vic West and then into downtown Victoria,” according to VicPD in the release.
They say officers found “several scenes” with significant amounts of blood, including one location with bloodied clothing.
A VicPD officer reviewed surveillance footage from the previous night of a person in the 1200-block of Esquimalt Road with an active, untreated injury, “which they appear to disregard,” police said.
A still photo of the injured person was then circulated to officers.
“Minutes later, a patrol officer in downtown Victoria spotted a person who matched the still photograph,” VicPD said.
“The officer approached the person and discovered that they were in both medical and psychological distress, with untreated injuries related to a medical condition that (was) resulting in significant bleeding.”
According to VicPD, the person refused medical treatment and was apprehended by officers under the Mental Health Act and brought to hospital for treatment.
Police say the investigation indicates that the person’s injuries were due to a medical condition, not a criminal matter.
Ethan Morneau
