VicPD arrested an armed man outside of a multi-unit supportive housing facility in downtown Victoria on Monday.
Just before 4 a.m. on Monday, October 11th, officers responded to a 9-1-1 call that a man was allegedly firing a handgun outside a multi-unit supportive housing facility in the 800-block of Johnson street.
All available officers responded to the area and located the suspect standing outside the building firing what appeared to be a handgun.
Several people fled the area and no one was injured.
An officer observed the suspect put the handgun in his pocket while police told the man to raise his hands. The man refused and put his hands in his pockets.
VicPD officers deployed a bean bag shotgun and a conducted energy weapon in response.
When that was ineffective, the suspect was then taken to the ground by an officer and placed into handcuffs.
Police found he was in possession of a compressed air-powered handgun and knife.
Upon his arrest, the suspect told officers he was an opioid-user experiencing an overdose. Officers administered naloxone until paramedics arrived and transported him to hospital.
The man received non-life-threatening injuries which did not require further medical treatment.
VicPD reported that the weapons were seized and the man was released with court-ordered conditions, including prohibitions from possessing weapons and a future court date.
In a media release, VicPD cited Bill C-75 as reason for the suspect’s release.
The incident is under investigation and VicPD are asking anyone with information to contact them at (250) 995-7654.
