Victoria police arrested one man and seized a number of weapons, including an imitation firearm, after a vehicle stop in the afternoon on Wednesday.
At around 1:30 p.m., Community Services Division (CSD) officers pulled over a vehicle for traffic violations in the 2900-block of Blackwood Street near Topaz Park. The officers learned that the driver was in breach of his probation and arrested him immediately.
The following search of the vehicle found a variety of weapons including a loaded imitation firearm, a knife, collapsible baton and bear spray. The look-alike firearm was a Glock style BB gun, powered by an air cartridge. The file remains under investigation.
This arrest and subsequent seizure of weapons in the Topaz Park area is just one example of officers making proactive patrols in areas where they say they have seen an increase in calls for service.
VicPD has seen a 126% increase in calls for service in the Topaz Park area since March 15.
The park is currently being used to house 200 of the city’s homeless and is now at full capacity. Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is asking the province to help the vulnerable population find housing during the pandemic.
Rebecca Lawrence
