Police have arrested and charges have been approved following a bear spray incident that sent shoppers scrambling inside the food court at Mayfair Shopping Centre earlier this month.
According to VicPD, officers were called to the mall just after 2 p.m. on January 2nd after bear spray was discharged inside the busy food court.
The spray quickly spread throughout the area, affecting numerous patrons who were not involved in the initial incident.
Police say several innocent bystanders were impacted, including adults, children, and two infants.
Emergency crews from Victoria Fire Department and BC Emergency Health Services responded alongside officers, providing medical assistance while the food court was ventilated to clear the irritant.
Investigators believe the incident stemmed from a broader conflict involving multiple groups of youth. The suspects fled the mall immediately after the spray was released.
Following a multi-week investigation, police arrested two individuals in connection with the incident. An adult male was arrested on January 10th and has been charged with assault with a weapon.
A second suspect, a youth, was arrested and held in custody on January 13th.
The BC Prosecution Service has since approved charges against the youth, including six counts of assault with a weapon, one count of causing a disturbance, and one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Due to the individual’s age, police say no identifying information will be released.
In a media statement, VicPD thanked mall staff, first responders, and members of the public for their cooperation, noting that incidents involving weapons in public spaces place community members at significant risk.
