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Impaired stranger 'tickles the ivories' after entering Saanich home

Music caught the attention of two teenagers inside the Blair Avenue home.

A suspected impaired driver whose truck broke down in front of a home on Sunday decided his best course of action was to enter the nearest home uninvited and play the family piano.

Around 2 p.m., a grey 2001 Dodge truck, towing a large U-Haul trailer, was making its way northbound on Shelbourne Street when it collided with something and lost its front passenger tire. The driver continued travelling on three tires, one rim and a broken front axle, subsequently turning onto Blair Avenue and then Birchwood Street, where it came to a stop.

The driver proceeded to enter the nearest home through the front door and sat down at a piano to play a song.

"It looks like he had some skills with the ivories," said Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen.

The music caught the attention of two teenagers who were inside the home at the time. A 17-year-old exchange student went to investigate the noise, and she was confronted by the man, who "became quite abusive. He swore and directed some racial comments at this 17-year-old."

She called police and the man left the home. He then played with a skateboard on the driveway for a short time before getting back into his vehicle.

Officers arrived and suspected the man to be intoxicated. He was arrested, but refused to provide police with a breath sample.

A 23-year-old Saanich man faces one count of unlawfully entering a dwelling house.

Police are also looking to lay impaired driving charges, but want to speak with anyone who may have seen the truck and U-Haul displaying poor driving along Shelbourne.

Police are unsure whether the tire came off after striking another vehicle or a curb, but they are looking for witnesses to help them proceed with the impaired charges.

Anyone with information on this incident can contact Saanich police at 250-475-4321.

kslavin@saanichnews.com