A Loss Prevention Officer has been released from hospital after he was stabbed at a Canadian Tire in Victoria.
The incident happened at the Hillside Mall location at around 7 p.m. Tuesday evening after the loss prevention officer watched a suspect steal a number of items from the store’s shelves.
The LPO then attempted to make a citizen’s arrest and a struggle ensued, according to the Victoria Police Department.
“That struggle spilled out outside of the store and then the stabbing occurred outside of the store in the area of the parking lot,” said Const. Cam MacIntyre of the Victoria Police Department.
Bystanders held the suspect outside the Canadian Tire until police arrived.
The loss prevention officer recognizing the seriousness of his injury took off his belt and applied a tourniquet to his leg in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
“When officers arrived on scene, they were able to, to apply a second tourniquet which was required,” MacIntyre said.
The LPO was eventually transported to nearby hospital with what was considered to be life-threatening injuries. However, police say he has since been released and will recover. treated at a hospital for his injuries and released.
Andrew Jason Knowland, 37, was arrested at the scene and is now facing three charges, including assault causing bodily harm.
WATCH: Victoria Police’s union concerned about escalating violence in city
Violent crime is increasing in the city, according to Victoria Police’s latest statistics, which show that calls for service involving violence increased by 35 per cent from 2016 to 2020.
Mirko Filipovic, owner of a private security firm called Themis Security, said it isn’t just police seeing more violence these days, but security guards too.
“We’re just encountering more and more individuals with weapons and dealing with it,” Filipovic said. “It’s always a concern from an operations point of view when we send staff to calls and what they’re dealing with.”
He said since the pandemic hit, his staff have been dealing with an increasing amount of unpredictable and violent calls.
“It’s changed in terms of frequency and the number of incidents that we’re dealing with, in terms of weapon calls and dealing with individuals with weapons,” Filipovic said.
CHEK Now: A new daily newsletter delivered right to your inbox
CHEK News
Mary Griffin
