Victoria police arrested an armed person in crisis after a long stand-off Saturday evening.
A large contingent of Victoria Police Department patrol and Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) officers responded to a report that a person was in crisis in the 900-block of Mason Street at around 6:30 p.m. Police were told the person was refusing medical attention.
When police arrived, they learned the person who had barricaded themselves inside the house was suffering from a self-inflicted neck injury.
GVERT officers, including crisis negotiators, tried to talk the person down over several hours, deploying two loud distraction devices to have the person accept medical care.
Just after 10 p.m. the person armed with the weapon tried to engage officers at the front door of the residence. Officers used ARWEN less-lethal munitions – plastic projectiles – to disarm and take the person into custody.
VicPD medical support officers treated the person on scene until BC Emergency Health Services paramedics arrived and took the person to hospital for medical evaluation and mental health care. The person suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
ALSO READ: Ottawa exploring criminal reform as Liberal MP tables bill on long-term care neglect
Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.