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Off-Duty Officer Attacked While Volunteering

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Date Published: 14 Sep 2021, Last Updated: 15 May 2025

Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2021File: 21-37515Victoria, BC – An off-duty VicPD officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries after she was attacked while volunteering in Victoria yesterday.At approximately 12:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon an off-duty VicPD officer was volunteering her time to walk a dog in the 500-block of David Street when she was randomly approached by an unknown woman. The woman was agitated and acting erratically, and accused the officer of stealing the dog she was walking. The woman then physically attacked the off-duty officer. A struggle ensued that went to the ground and the suspect struck the officer several times, including violently kicking the officer several times while she was on the ground. The suspect then fled the area.The officer did not require medical treatment at the scene. She was off-duty and recovering from a life-altering injury sustained nearly two years ago after being assaulted by a suspect during a different police incident.Patrol officers responded to the incident and located the suspect a short distance away from the scene. Officers arrested the suspect without further incident.The suspect was transported to VicPD cells where she was later released with a court date and conditions. She will face recommended charges of assault.In British Columbia, the decision to release a person is based on the likelihood they will attend court, the risk posed to public safety, and the impact on confidence in the criminal justice system.  In addition, Bill C-75, which came into effect nationally in 2019, has legislated a “principle of restraint” that requires police to release an accused person at the earliest possible opportunity after considering these factors. This is founded in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that every person has the right to liberty and the presumption of innocence pre-trial.  Police are also asked to consider the circumstances of Indigenous or vulnerable person in the process, in order to address the disproportionate impacts that the criminal justice system has on these populations.This file remains under investigation.If you have information about this incident, please call our non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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