Woman arrested in downtown Victoria with replica handgun

A woman was arrested at gunpoint in downtown Victoria on Sunday after police received reports she was carrying a handgun on Government Street.

According to a release by police, the woman was observed carrying what looked like a black handgun in an alley in the 1400-block of Government Street.

Officers arrived and observed her place the ‘handgun’ into her purse. When they commanded her to give herself up and/or put down the purse, she initially refused to do either.

VicPD officers then used their critical de-escalation tactics to engage with the suspect, and eventually she surrendered and was arrested.

The gun, it turned out, was actually a replica firearm and was seized.

Using critical incident de-escalation techniques, Patrol officers were able to take a woman, reported to be in possession of a handgun in the 1400-block of Government street, into custody without injury yesterday evening. The gun turned out to be a replica. #yyj | #F1830804

— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) July 16, 2018