Victoria police are asking people to remain calm following the arrest of a man who allegedly killed a dog on Monday.
On Jan. 20 at around 4 p.m., officers were called to an apartment building for the report of an incident between a man and a dog.
When officers arrived, they discovered that tge male suspect had left the scene and had gone into a suite in the building. Officers also found the dog had died. Patrol officers, as well as Saanich Police Department K9 and VicPD K9 officers also responded.
Police said the man would not leave the suite. The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), including crisis negotiators, then went to the scene.
Residents of neighbouring suites were evacuated out of an abundance of caution, police said. According to police, attempts were made to negotiate with the man, but he was not cooperative.
Just before 7 p.m. that night, the man exited the suite. Police said he still refused to comply with officers’ directions. ARWEN less-lethal projectiles were used and the man was then taken into custody. He was taken to hospital by B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics and officers for evaluation.
Police said the man was not the owner of the dog. The dog’s owners reported the dog had been taken from their residence in a break and enter, which happened a short time before officers were called to the 1300-block of Hillside Avenue.
The dog’s owners were not home at the time of the break and enter, but returned home to discover evidence of the break and enter and their dog missing. Police confirmed the dog that died was the same dog that had been stolen from the resident.
Brandon Bartlett, a 38-year-old Victoria man, is facing one count of killing or injuring an animal. Police said they are still working with Crown Counsel, as well as liaising with the SPCA and Victoria Animal Control.
On Thursday, police said in a release that numerous posts have appeared on various social media platforms sharing information identifying the man, as well as “making threatening comments that have officers concerned for the man’s safety.”
“While the circumstances of this file are disturbing and it is understandable that people are upset, investigators are appealing to the public for calm. Threats against anyone must be investigated. Additionally, comments of this nature can have a negative impact on investigations, as well as court outcomes,” Victoria police said.
CHEK News
