A woman is in custody after she allegedly harmed a Victoria police officer during an arrest in tent city Tuesday afternoon.
Two special-duty officers patrolling the encampment as part of a recently approved enhanced public safety plan spotted a woman with an outstanding warrant, according to Acting Chief Del Manak.
“She saw the police and she took off running, and she ran right into tent city, where our officers caught up to her and arrested her,” Manak said.
A struggle ensued, and a female officer suffered minor injuries. She was taken to hospital for treatment.
The woman arrested remains in custody for her outstanding warrant and also faces charges of assault of a police officer.
Many took to social media to say it’s another example of why tent city should be dismantled.
@CTVNewsVI As if we needed any further proof that the tent city is a hive of violence and lawlessness. They need to go! #yyj #tentcity
— Cameron (@KhanPodo) May 24, 2016
@CTVNewsVI The only surprising thing is that it's taken so long to happen. Time to go. Far past time to go.
— Kalola (@CYYJCarol) May 24, 2016
But some residents say they feel recent events have been overblown in the media, even if the camp's days feel numbered.
“They’ve got to be numbered. It’s gonna come to an end sometime, but I find this really was blown out of proportion,” said Jesse Ludtke. “You get an article saying…police are being met here aggressively with insults and stuff like that. I don’t find that to be a fact at all.”
Safety deadline set for Monday
Tent city campers furiously scrambled to bring the controversial site up to code Tuesday.
Last month, fire officials set forth a number of safety requirements that were to be met by residents as of Wednesday.
Those requirements include no longer using candles and open flames, with an exception for the camp’s “sacred fire,” as well as minimum one-metre spacing between shelters.
Tarps over shelters and other structures must also be removed, and emergency exits must be clear of obstructions.
“We’re not going to make complete compliance of this order, I’m sure. But you know what, we’re going to make a good effort towards it,” said Ludtke. “Fire regulations are important, we want everyone here to be safe.”
A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled last month that campers may stay at the site through summer until it hears the province’s permanent injunction request to oust them.
That hearing is scheduled for Sept. 7.
Manak recently made a presentation to city council to ask for more funding for police patrols around tent city, noting a “criminal element” has crept its way into the camp in recent weeks.
The city obliged and granted police $113,000 to step up patrols.
