Victoria, BC – A Victoria man is in custody facing seven charges after being arrested by Police Service Dog Diesel and his team after breaking into an occupied residence and stealing a vehicle Monday night.
Officers were called to a residence in the 3100-block of Glasgow Street just after 9 p.m. on Monday, November 13th after a woman discovered that her residence had been broken into while she was home, babysitting a young relative. Her purse, several pieces of identification, bank and credit cards, car keys and vehicle were all missing. Responding officers located her purse and some items nearby and began a search for the stolen vehicle and remaining items. They notified other officers city-wide of the stolen vehicle.
While this first officer team were searching the property and gathering evidence, a VicPD K9 team spotted the stolen vehicle and initiated a vehicle stop in a parking lot in the 400-block of Gorge Road East. The officer recognized the suspect from previous interactions and, knowing the suspect has carried weapons in the past, instructed the suspect to show his hands. The suspect refused to comply with the officer’s instructions and suddenly exited the stolen vehicle carrying something in his hands. Concerned the item in the suspect’s hand was a weapon, and with the suspect running towards a small group of people, the officer gave PSD Diesel the instruction to apprehend the suspect.
The suspect was taken to the ground, but continued to fight with PSD Diesel and his handler, striking PSD Diesel in an attempt to escape. He was taken into custody a short time later. A small change purse and sunglasses case were located near the suspect’s person. These were found to contain drugs and items stolen from the woman’s purse. The suspect was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, treated and released back into police custody. PSD Diesel was not injured.
Officers are recommending charges of breaking and entering, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, obstruction, failure to comply with an undertaking and possession of a controlled substance.
More charges may be considered as our investigation is ongoing.
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