Police dogs were deployed in downtown Victoria on Tuesday night to assist in the arrest of man smashing the walls of restaurant with a steel beam and a knife-wielding man who threatened security officers at the Bay Centre.
Around 8 p.m., patrol and officers with the integrated canine unit raced to the 600-block of Johnson Street after a man entered a busy restaurant with a large steel beam and started damaging the walls. Officers found the man in an alley behind the restaurant. He was trying to get away by climbing onto the roof of a nearby building.
The man had a knife and refused to comply with police directions, said Const. Cam MacIntyre. When he began struggling with officers, police dog Obi was used to bring the man into custody.
When officers searched the man after his arrest, they found he was carrying more weapons.
The man was transported to the hospital for the injuries he sustained in the arrest. He was later released from police custody with a court date and conditions. Police are recommending charges of mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
The file remains under investigation.
Just after 10 p.m., patrol and canine officers headed to the mall after receiving a report that a man had threatened security officers with a knife. When the security officers confronted the man, he jumped on several patio tables outside the mall, brandished the knife then ran off on foot.
Police found the man three blocks away, in the 1400-block of Douglas Street. He had a knife in his hand and refused to comply with police direction.
“However, the deployment and presence of police service dog Hitch compelled the man to surrender to police,” said MacIntyre. “The suspect was arrested without further incident.”
The man was driven to the police station and placed in cells. He was later released on conditions with a court date.
Anyone with information about the two incidents is asked to call the Victoria police report desk at 250-995-7654, extension 1. To make an anonymous report, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
