Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2021
File: 21-15214
Victoria, BC – Officers are working to locate and arrest a 38-year-old suspect after he assaulted a missing 15-year-old in his tent in Beacon Hill Park last night. During their investigation, responding officers were confronted by those camping in the park, who obstructed officers’ and paramedics’ attempts to transport the victim to medical treatment. Two officers were assaulted, and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Patrol officers were called to Beacon Hill Park, near Douglas Street and Circle Drive, by BC Emergency Health Services paramedics and Victoria Fire Department firefighters, for assistance as they responded to a medical call. When the medical responders arrived they learned that a 15-year-old had been assaulted and choked in a tent at that location, and called for officers.
Officers attended and located the victim, being treated by paramedics for non-life-threatening but potentially life-altering injuries from the assault. Numerous people who are camping in the park stood close by and were interfering with the victim’s medical treatment. Officers learned the suspect had left the area.
When officers attempted to speak with the victim, numerous people who are camping in the park began to intervene, urging the victim to not speak with officers, to not go to hospital for medical treatment, and to leave the area. They began confronting the officers and paramedics and continued to urge the 15 year-old victim to leave the area, physically grabbing the victim and pulling them away.
Having significant concern for the victim’s safety, officers apprehended them under the Child, Family and Community Service Act. A struggle ensued between those camping in the park, the 15-year-old victim, and officers. Officers called for a “code 3” response and additional units responded to assist.
One officer was bitten and another struck in the mouth with spit while the victim was carried to the ambulance and secured for transport to the hospital. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment without further incident.
As they continued their investigation, officers learned that the victim is developmentally delayed and had been reported missing from home. Other officers were working to locate the victim at the time they were discovered in Beacon Hill Park.
The suspect, a 38-year-old man with numerous recent charges, including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and breaching court ordered conditions, has been identified. Officers are working to locate the man and take him into custody.
Officers do not believe there is a risk to the wider public at this time, but are working to locate the suspect now.
This file remains under investigation.
If you have information about this incident, please call our VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 ext 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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