Date: Friday, September 9, 2022
File: 22-34475
Victoria, BC – Officers including Crisis Negotiators and officers with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) successfully resolved an incident with an armed person near a Cook Street Village playground this evening.
At approximately 7:40 p.m. this evening, Patrol officers responded to the 900-block of Park Boulevard where they discovered a person armed with a knife and a razor. When officers spoke with the person, they raised a knife to their own throat. GVERT officers, including trained specialist Crisis Negotiators responded.
Negotiators worked to resolve the incident by actively engaging with the person, speaking to them, listening to them and working to build trust. Negotiators worked for approximately two and a half hours to convince the person to put down the knife and the razor.
It became clear from the person’s behaviour that the negotiators’ efforts would not be able to resolve the incident safely. GVERT officers utilized a noise making device in an effort to safely resolve the incident. Unfortunately, the noise-making device was not successful. GVERT officers then utilized pepper spray, a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) and bean bag rounds to disarm the person. They were taken into custody without further incident. Officers then discovered the person had non-life-threatening arm injuries.
They were treated immediately by a VicPD Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) medic. BCEHS paramedics took over and transported them to hospital for medical treatment and mental health evaluation.
Officers notified the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner and the Independent Investigations Office as is required anytime a person is injured in proximity to a police interaction.
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