File: 20-3064

Victoria, BC – Investigators are appealing for calm as a Victoria man remains in custody after being arrested in a January 20th incident involving an animal in Victoria’s Oaklands neighbourhood.

Patrol officers were called to a multi-unit residential building in the 1300-block of Hillside Avenue at approximately 4 p.m. on January 20th, for a report of an incident between a man and a dog. When officers arrived, they discovered that the man had left the scene and had gone into a suite in the building. Officers discovered that the dog was deceased.

Patrol officers, as well as Saanich Police Department K9 and VicPD K9 officers responded to the scene.

The man refused to leave the suite and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), including Crisis Negotiators, were deployed. Residents of neighbouring suites were evacuated out of an abundance of caution. Attempts were made to negotiate with the man, but he was not cooperative.

Just before 7 p.m. the man exited the suite, but refused to comply with officers’ directions. ARWEN less-lethal projectiles were deployed and the man was then taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to hospital by B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics and Patrol officers for evaluation.

The investigation revealed that the man was not the owner of the dog. The dog’s owners reported that the dog had been taken from their residence in a break and enter which occurred a short time before officers were called to the incident in the 1300-block of Hillside Avenue. The dog’s owners were not home at the time of the break and enter, but returned home to discover evidence of the break and enter and their dog missing.

Investigators have confirmed the deceased dog was the same dog taken from the residence.

Brandon Bartlett, a 38-year-old Victoria man, has been remanded into custody on animal injury charges and Break and Enter. Investigators continue to work with Crown Counsel and are also liaising with the SPCA and Victoria Animal Control.

Numerous posts have appeared on various social media platforms sharing information identifying the man, as well as making threatening comments that have officers concerned for the man’s safety. While the circumstances of this file are disturbing and it is understandable that people are upset, investigators are appealing to the public for calm. Threats against anyone must be investigated. Additionally, comments of this nature can have a negative impact on investigations, as well as court outcomes.

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