A Victoria man charged with injuring four 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.
Three officers — two women and a man — were sent to hospital for treatment. Another male officer was treated at the encampment. The police officers will be off work for a couple of days, said police spokesman Bowen Osoko.
Hawkins was not injured. She is not co-operating with police.
Keyler was subdued with a Taser and taken to hospital. He has been cleared medically. He was not injured during the arrest.
Victoria police spokesman Const. Matt Rutherford said the confrontation arose when 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.
The two officers called for backup. Two officers who responded to the call for assistance were also injured.
Detectives are interviewing witnesses who observed the incident.
In late May, a Victoria police officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries after she was injured while making an arrest at the tent city. Three days later, a CTV camera man was attacked by a tent city resident.
On Friday, tent city spokeswoman Christine Brett said she was glad no one had been seriously hurt during the altercation.
“Violence is not acceptable at any level,” she said.
The mood at the camp was peaceful and quiet Friday morning, but people were shaken up, she said.
Victoria police said the same patrols will remain in place. Two officers will be at the camp from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Two officers will walk the neighbourhood from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Tent city is set to be dismantled on Aug. 8 after new transitional housing opens in the city.
