Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
File: 24-3500
Victoria, BC – Multiple calls about a man swinging a hatchet in a busy downtown area led to an arrest and a beanbag shotgun deployment yesterday evening.
On January 30, just before 7:00 pm, officers received several calls about a person swinging a hatchet around people in the 1200-block of Government Street. The suspect was reportedly accompanied by two other males at the time.
Officers attended and quickly located the man nearby. When the suspect was approached, he ignored commands from officers and pulled the hatchet out of his jacket. As a result, a less-lethal beanbag round was deployed to his thigh. The suspect was then taken into custody.
No injuries were sustained, but as is policy any time a less-lethal tool is deployed, the man was taken to hospital to be medically cleared. He was later released under the condition to appear at a future court date.
Further details about this investigation cannot be shared at this time as the matter is now before the courts.
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