Victoria, BC – A Victoria man is in custody after a report of a man brandishing a firearm in the 2600-block of Blackwood Street.
Officers flooded the area just after 2 p.m. today for a report of man with a firearm. When officers arrived at the location in the 2600-block of Blackwood Street they observed a man carrying what appeared to be a handgun. Officers surrounded the man, but he refused to follow their directions. Officers deployed less-lethal ARWEN projectiles and were then able to take the suspect into custody without further incident. It was only once the man was in custody that officers were able to determine that the handgun was a convincing replica firearm.
The suspect was transported to hospital as a precaution. Our investigation remains ongoing.
“These replica firearms are very convincing,” A/Chief Constable Del Manak said. “On a call like this, until our officers have the firearm in their hands they have to treat it as though it were real.”
If you have information about this incident and have not yet spoken to officers you are asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 222-8477