A knife-wielding man stabbed a stranger over cigarettes in Victoria before allegedly turning on police and being subdued by a Taser Wednesday afternoon. A suspect was arrested and is expected to be in court this morning.
The incident occurred in a populated area of Rock Bay Avenue and Gorge Road East, and several people appeared to be filming it on their phones, said police, who are asking those witnesses to share the information with them.
Patrol officers responded to a report that a man was attacking another man with a knife in the area just after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The victim told police he was outside his home when a stranger approached and demanded a cigarette. When he turned him down, “the stranger stabbed him in the chest.”
The victim told police he ran away, only to find his attacker following him. He credited a witness across the street for calling 911 and interrupting the attack by yelling that police were on the phone.
The victim, who received a stab wound to his chest and other injuries but declined further medical treatment, used his smartphone to take a photograph of his attacker before he fled.
Officers found a man matching the photo nearby a short time later.
Victoria police said when they initially approached, the suspect turned away “and began reaching into his waist area.”
“When officers verbally challenged him, telling him he was under arrest, the man spun back towards them and brandished a knife,” Victoria police said in a statement. “He raised the knife above his head and began yelling at officers.”
One police officer drew his duty pistol while another discharged a Taser, causing the man “to drop the knife and fall to the ground,” said police.
The suspect was taken into custody and a knife was recovered.
The suspect was transported to hospital for evaluation, which police said is a standard practice anytime a conducted energy weapon is deployed. The suspect was treated and released from hospital and transported to Victoria police cells.
The suspect is expected to be in court this morning, facing recommended charges — three counts of assaulting a police officer, assault with a weapon, and mischief.
Investigators are asking anyone with information or video of the incident or the arrest to call the Victoria police report desk at 250-995-7654 ext. 1.
ceharnett@timescolonist.com