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Suspect Arrested By GVERT After Assaulting Patrol Officers, Damaging Property, Barricading Himself In Apartment Building

News Releases
Date Published: 23 Dec 2019, Last Updated: 15 May 2025

File: 19-55332Victoria, BC – One man has been arrested and transported to hospital for assessment after an incident in a James Bay apartment building.Just before 10 p.m. last night, Patrol officers were called to a multi-unit residential building in the 200-block of Oswego Street for a report of a disturbance. When Patrol officers arrived, they were met by several building residents who indicated that a man had caused a series of disturbances in the building and was currently damaging a second floor hallway. Officers moved to the hallway where they were met by the man who became aggressive towards them.The two Patrol officers approached the man who immediately began to fight with them. He assaulted one of the officers, causing non-life-threatening injuries. The officers called for immediate back-up.The man broke free of the officers, and retreated to his suite, where he barricaded himself inside. Additional officers arrived. Impacted building residents were evacuated. The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) was deployed to the scene.Throughout the night, Crisis Negotiators worked to resolve the incident. Just before 4 a.m., when negotiations with the man failed, and after numerous attempts to have the man give himself up peacefully, GVERT officers made entry into the suite. The man was taken into custody. He was transported to hospital for mental and physical health assessment. He is currently being held. Residents have returned to their units.The Patrol officer who received non-life-threatening injuries during the assault by the suspect was able to complete their shift.This file remains under active investigation.

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