An odd sequence of events that started with an assault by one male on another around 8:30 a.m. on Friday in Saanich, ended in Esquimalt at around 1 p.m. with a police pursuit, a vehicle crash and a second assault.
Both the suspect and victim were males who knew each other, and are known to police throughout Greater Victoria. They initially met downtown when the suspect offered the other man a ride to an area near Mount Douglas Park.
Once they arrived, however, the two became involved in an altercation and the victim was struck in the head with an unknown item, said acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie.
“The victim was attacked and then threatened with further assault, at which point the victim ran through the park and flagged a motorist.”
The motorist drove him a short distance away and contacted Saanich Police. The victim sustained a small cut to his head and was attended to by the B.C. Ambulance Service.
At about 1 p.m., a plain-clothes Victoria Police officer identified the suspect in Esquimalt and called it in. When back-up officers arrived, the suspect vehicle fled the scene at high speed.
VicPD pursued only for a short distance when the chase was called off for public safety reasons. However, the suspect vehicle crashed at Craigflower Road at Alderman Road just moments later and two occupants fled the car. Officers, including a K9, gave chase on foot.
A nearby motorist intervened to assist in the apprehension of one of the suspects at the same moment a police service dog arrived on scene. The suspect and the assisting citizen received non-life-threatening injuries in the arrest, requiring brief medical treatment. Three individuals were taken into custody.
Among the getaway attempts by one of the fleeing suspects was an alleged assault and theft attempt, physically removing a motor scooter rider from the bike.
VicPD is investigating the pursuit, crash and alleged assault in Esquimalt while Saanich Police is focused on the morning assault at Mount Doug. The Mount Doug suspect appeared in court on Monday.
Police wouldn’t confirm if the item used to bludgeon the victim at Mount Doug was the same weapon that was seized from the suspect’s car.