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Hatchet-Wielding Man Arrested After Witness Photo Posted on Instagram

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Date Published: 22 Nov 2021, Last Updated: 15 May 2025

Date: Monday, November 22, 2021File: 21-46236Victoria, BC – A man who was seen chasing a man while wielding a hatchet was arrested by Integrated Canine Service officers and VicPD Patrol officers Thursday after he was spotted by a citizen who had seen his photo, captured by a witness, on our VicPD Canada Instagram account.On Thursday, November 18, 2021, just before 1 p.m. Patrol officers were called to the 700-block of Fort Street for a report that a man was chasing another man while wielding a hatchet. The victim fled from the armed man and approached a group of people waiting in line outside a nearby business to ask them for help and to call police. The armed man then left the area, but not before a quick-thinking witness took a photograph of him. When officers arrived, the witness shared the man’s photo with them. VicPD then shared the man’s photo on our Twitter and Instagram social media accounts.A short time later, another witness who had seen the man’s photo on our Instagram account, called 911 to report they had seen the suspect. An Integrated Canine Service officer with Police Service Dog Koa attended alongside Patrol officers, located the man, and took him into custody without incident. Officers searched the man and recovered a hatchet. He was transported to VicPD cells and held for court.The suspect is well-known to police with over 100 recommended charges and many convictions. He faces recommended charges of assault with a weapon.No one was physically injured.Investigators are working to determine if this incident is connected to other reports of a man chasing people with a hatchet downtown.VicPD uses Twitter, Facebook, Esquimalt Division Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to share transparent and timely information with both members of our local media community and our wider community as efficiently as possible. During ongoing incidents, we often post to Twitter first to inform the largest number of people with important information as quickly as possible.The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. If you have information about this incident and have not yet spoken to officers, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1. Please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to report what you know anonymously.

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