Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Files: 24-17169 & 24-17178
Victoria, BC – For the second weekend in a row, VicPD responded to reports of youth fighting and using pepper spray in the Esquimalt area.
Just before 8:30 pm on Friday, May 17, officers attended the 1100-block of Esquimalt Road after receiving report of a pepper spraying incident. It was determined that the victim, a male youth, was approached by a group of youths that began acting aggressively towards him. The victim tried to walk away but was followed by one of the males from the group who then pepper sprayed the victim in the face and torso.
Officers searched the area and located the suspect nearby. He was arrested then released into the care of his guardian with a future court date.
Later that same night, just after 9:30 pm, Patrol officers received multiple calls regarding a fight occurring amongst a group of approximately 20 to 30 youths in the 1200-block of Esquimalt Road. Officers attended and many of the youths dispersed, were uncooperative with police or provided conflicting accounts of what occurred. No arrests were made, and the remaining youths were either picked up by caregivers or driven home by officers.
No significant injuries were reported but one of the youths was treated by B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics due to being pepper sprayed.
“This marks the fifth reported incident of youth assaults involving pepper spray in one week,” says VicPD Spokesperson Constable Terri Healy. “Some youth in these groups are coming from neighbouring municipalities and causing a disturbance in Esquimalt. In response to this recent uptick, we will be increasing our proactive patrols in the Esquimalt area over the next few weekends.”
If you have any information about these incidents, please call the EComm Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1.
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