Date: Friday, July 12, 2024
File: 24-24691
Victoria, BC – Officers responded to an incident in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue last night, during a call for assistance to BC Emergency Health Services (EHS) members.
At approximately 7:50 p.m. on July 11, EHS members in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue were flagged down for a male in need of medical assistance. While the individual was being cared for, he attacked one of the paramedics, striking and kicking them in the face. The paramedic fled towards a nearby Victoria Fire truck, which was on scene for an unrelated matter, but was pursued by the suspect who continued to act aggressively towards first responders.
When VicPD officers arrived on-scene, they observed the male continue to exhibit aggressive behaviour, and a crowd of approximately 60 bystanders began to surround the first responders. The male ignored commands from officers, and a Conductive Energy Weapon (CEW) was deployed. The male was then placed in custody, where he currently remains pending a court appearance.
After the arrest, bystanders in the area became increasingly hostile towards officers, who were highly outnumbered. Officers called for additional resources to gain control of the situation and prevent it from escalating further. VicPD thanks all of the neighbouring police agencies for their quick response and assistance.
The injured paramedic was transported to hospital for treatment. Two VicPD officers received minor injuries during the arrest but were not hospitalized.
As the investigation is ongoing, no further details can be shared at this time.
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