Update: A Victoria man charged with injuring four Victoria police officers and assaulting his girlfriend at tent city Thursday night will remain in custody for at least two weeks.
David Christopher Keyler, 29, did not appear in court on Friday. He agreed to remain in custody at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre and will appear in Victoria provincial court on Aug. 11.
Keyler, who was on probation at the time, is charged with assaulting girlfriend Amanda Hawkins. He is also charged with assault causing bodily harm to three Victoria police officers, assaulting a fourth officer, resisting police, possession of brass knuckles and carrying a prohibited weapon — brass knuckles — dangerous to the peace.
Read the full story: Man charged after four police officers injured at tent city
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Original story
Four Victoria police officers were injured in a violent tent city arrest after they were assaulted by a man at the Burdett Street encampment Thursday evening. Three officers were sent to hospital for treatment while a fourth was treated at the scene.
The attacker, who is known to police, was subdued with a Taser and also taken to hospital. He was cleared medically and will spend the night in a cell at Victoria police headquarters on Quadra Street. He was not injured.
Victoria police spokesman Const. Matt Rutherford said special duty officers stationed at the encampment heard an altercation in one of the tents and attempted to intervene in what sounded like a domestic assault. They encountered an “extremely combative” man who began to assault them, Rutherford said.
The two officers called for backup and multiple police units quickly responded. “Two assisting officers were also assaulted and a Taser was then deployed to gain control of the man who was then taken into custody without further incident,” a police statement said.
Detectives are interviewing witnesses who observed the incident.
Police are recommending four charges of assaulting a police officer, possession of a prohibited weapon, assault and resisting arrest. The man is expected to appear in court today.
