Thursday, March 28, 2024

Police arrest Victoria man carrying a cache of weapons and illegal drugs

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A Victoria man is in custody facing 29 recommended charges after VicPD officers arrested him on Friday for a fraud involving counterfeit cash in Esquimalt.

A second man is facing one charge, bringing the total to 30.

Officers were called to a business in the 800-block of Esquimalt Road on Thursday, May 17, after reports of two men who had passed counterfeit currency.

Officers recognized one of the suspects based on his description and set out on a search for him and his accomplice.

Patrol officers were called to the 1500-block of Fort Street at approximately 2:45 p.m. the next day for a report of two men who appeared to be taking off handcuffs. The description of one of the men matched that of one of the fraud suspects. But while patrol officers searched the area, they did not locate the suspects.

They were later spotted near the intersection of Douglas and Yates streets in downtown Victoria. One of the men turned on the officers with a knife in his hand, but an officer was able to disarm him safely.

The man was subdued with OC spray after he began to fight with officers, and taken into custody.

In searching the man, police discovered that he was in possession of five knives, including a prohibited switchblade, an ASP baton, bear spray, illegal drugs, a replica handgun, and over $7,000 in counterfeit currency.

Officers have since linked the man to at least two additional fraud investigations.

Police are recommending 29 charges, including six counts of possession of concealed weapons, five counts of fraud under $5,000, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of counterfeit currency, one count of possession of a prohibited weapon, eight counts of breach of probation, and six counts of breach of recognizance. Patrol officers believe that the man may be involved in additional frauds involving counterfeit currency.

The second man was arrested for breaching probation and released on a promise to appear in court.

Police are asking that anyone with information about this incident, or who believe that their business may have been targeted by these men attempting to pass counterfeit currency, to call the non-emergency line at 250-995-7654.

If you have information about these incidents but wish to remain anonymous, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Myles Sauer
Former staff editor and writer at Victoria Buzz.

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