Date: Wednesday, December 29, 2021
File: 21-51300
Victoria, BC – A Patrol officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries to their leg after they were dragged by a vehicle when an impaired driver fled a traffic stop early this morning.
Just after 3 a.m. this morning, a Patrol officer observed a vehicle make a turn onto Pandora Avenue at Blanshard Street and begin heading the wrong way on the one way street. The Patrol officer activated their emergency lights and pulled the vehicle over to initiate an impaired driving investigation. Dispatch informed the officer that the registered owner of the vehicle had a previous homicide conviction and had recently told officers of his desire for a fatal encounter with police. Additional Patrol officers attended.
Two Patrol officers approached the vehicle and spoke with the male driver and noted clear signs of intoxication. The driver then started the van and attempted to speed away. One of the Patrol officers became entangled with the vehicle and was dragged for several meters before freeing themselves. Despite their injuries, this officer returned to their vehicle and followed the fleeing van.
A short distance away, the driver turned onto Amelia Street and then attempted an additional turn into a driveway on Cormorant Street, colliding with a vehicle parked and a house. A Patrol Sergeant used their vehicle to pin the van in place. The driver exited the vehicle, but refused to comply with officers’ directions. Officers then deployed less lethal bean bag rounds and a conductive energy weapon. These were initially ineffective, and officers deployed the less lethal bean bag rounds and conductive energy weapon again until the conductive energy weapon was effective. The man fell to the ground, where he was taken into custody.
Once the man was in custody, the officer who had been dragged by the vehicle requested medical attention. B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics attended and both the man and the officer were transported to hospital for evaluation. The man was not injured and released back into officers’ custody to be transported to cells. The officer was treated for a non-life-threatening leg injury. The officer was transported back to headquarters to complete their file, but did not complete their shift and will not be deployable while they recover.
Collision Reconstruction Team crash analysts were called to the scene to document and investigate the collision. The damage to the house and the parked vehicle was extensive. The occupants of the house were not physically injured.
In cells, the man who was driving the van was given a breathalyzer test and failed. His vehicle was impounded and he was given a driving prohibition. He was later released on conditions with a future court date.
This incident remains under investigation. If you have information about this incident and have yet to speak with police, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1, or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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