Date: Friday, February 10, 2023
File: 23-5045
Victoria, BC – A man was arrested after officers responded to a stolen vehicle with a potentially armed suspect inside, a short distance from a hockey game.
At approximately 8:30 pm Patrol officers responded to a report that a recreational vehicle, which had been reported stolen the day before, had been located near the intersection of Quadra and Pembroke streets. Officers responded and learned that the suspect had a history of firearms offences and was believed to be potentially armed and dangerous.
Officers responded to the area, established a perimeter around the recreational vehicle and, out of an abundance of caution, blocked off neighbouring streets from Caledonia to Empress avenues. The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) responded and worked to convince the man to surrender peacefully. Given the man’s previous history of firearms offences and reports that the man may be armed, GVERT deployed their Armoured Rescue Vehicle (ARV) to assist.
Nearby streets were closed and families leaving the nearby hockey game and curling club, along with the public were asked to avoid the area out of an abundance of caution as officers worked to resolve the incident safely.
Just after 10:45 pm, officers efforts to resolve the incident safely were successful and the man surrendered without further incident. No one was physically injured in the incident. Upon his arrest, officers executed four outstanding warrants from area jurisdictions.
Officers have opened nearby roads, allowing those who were unable to access their vehicles to do so to begin their journeys home. Officers are searching the recreational vehicle and area.
This file remains under active information. Updates will be provided as we are able.
If you have information about this incident and have yet to speak with officers, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7645 extension 1.
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