Four officers attacked at tent city

Four Victoria police officers were injured in a violent tent city arrest after they were assaulted by a man at the Burdett Street encampment Thursday evening.

Three officers were sent to hospital for treatment while a fourth was treated at the scene.

The attacker, who is known to police, was subdued with a Taser and also taken to hospital.

He was cleared medically and was to spend the night in a cell at Victoria police headquarters on Quadra Street. He was not injured. Victoria police spokesman Const. Matt Rutherford said special duty officers stationed at the encampment heard an altercation in one of the tents and attempted to intervene in what sounded like a domestic assault. They encountered an “extremely combative” man who began to assault them, Rutherford said.

The two officers called for backup and multiple police units quickly responded.

“Two assisting officers were also assaulted and a Taser was then deployed to gain control of the man, who was then taken into custody without further incident,” a police statement said.

Detectives are interviewing witnesses who observed the incident.

Police are recommending four charges of assaulting a police officer, possession of a prohibited weapon, assault and resisting arrest. The man is expected to appear in court today.