Assault suspect arrested after large police presence shuts down Victoria street
A man is in police custody after an incident that shut down a downtown Victoria street and drew heavily armed "emergency response team" officers to the scene.
Patrol officers were called to the 700-block of Pandora Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. to arrest a man who is a suspect in an assault investigation, according to a news release from the Victoria Police Department.
The man refused to be arrested and barricaded himself inside his suite, police said. Neighbours told CTV News Vancouver Island the man was barricaded inside an apartment in the Cool Aid Society's supportive housing building.
Just before 5 p.m., officers taped off a section of Pandora Avenue between Douglas and Blanshard streets. Heavily armed police officers could be seen patrolling the blocked off road.
Police said officers spent several hours unsuccessfully negotiating with the man. Eventually, the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team "used irritant gas to assist in arresting the man," police said.
Officers at the scene could be seen donning gas masks and telling the public to move back as they prepared to use the gas.
Around 6 p.m., police said the situation had resolved and reopened the street to traffic.
Police said the man was taken into custody without further incident and without injury. He is a suspect in an investigation into an assault causing bodily harm and an assault by choking, police said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.