Victoria police are currently investigating a large fight that broke out downtown, involving young men armed with skateboards and bear spray.
In a police report issued on Wednesday, police said that the incident occurred on Tuesday shortly after 6 p.m.
In a now-deleted video that was posted online, yelling is heard in the 500-block of Yates Street. A group of men dressed in red are seen making their way up the street away from Reeson Park and bear spray a man with a skateboard.
The man sprayed then continues up the street.
Nearby restaurant Ferris’ Grill & Garden Patio had the fumes make their way into the restaurant. They moved customers to their back patio.
Officers said they responded to a report of a group of young men fighting in the Reeson Park area, located in the 1300-block of Wharf Street.
Victoria police officers were told that the men involved with the fight were armed with skateboards and bear spray. When police arrived on the scene, most of the young men had dispersed, however, officers were able to locate two of the “main participants.”
Both of the men located by police had sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the fight. BC Emergency Health Services paramedics treated the fight participants on the scene, with neither man needing to be transported to the hospital.
According to police, they could not get a statement from either participant as to what had occurred.
Officers said they searched the surrounding areas but were unable to locate any additional victims.
Ferris’ Grill & Garden Patio says in their 30-years in the city, they have never any major problems and say this was an isolated incident.
“I am downtown every day, every night, I often take the bus home,” said executive chef Aaron Lawrence.
“I have noticed an increase in some homeless but it hasn’t affected the downtown core where we are at. This is a completely isolated incident.”
Officers are asking anyone with video of the incident or any further details of the fight to call 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
