Police chase armed man in James Bay preschool
No children hurt; tips lead to arrest
A man armed with a knife ran through a preschool classroom with a police officer on his tail during an hours-long chase Friday in James Bay. Ultimately, it was tips from witnesses that helped police arrest the man, suspected of trying to break into a building. No children were injured. About 9 a.m., staff of the Coast Victoria Hotel on Kingston Street called police after a man and a woman broke into a secure area. Security staff confronted the pair and the man became aggressive. The two left before a police officer arrived.
A security guard told the officer that the pair left behind several makeshift weapons, including a homemade conductive energy weapon, said Victoria police spokesman Bowen Osoko.
The officer searched the area and about half an hour later, spotted the man and woman.
As the officer approached, the man fled. The officer called for backup and gave chase.
The man ran through MacDonald Park toward the James Bay Community School and the James Bay Community Centre, which houses a preschool. The man tore through a group of children, then entered the building, running through a preschool classroom and down a hallway with the lone officer in pursuit.
The man left the building and ran into the parking lot of an apartment building on St. James Street.
He ditched a bag he was carrying and hopped over a fence.
The lone officer picked up the discarded bag and found drugs and break-in tools.
More officers converged in James Bay and set up a containment area.
Police broadcast descriptions of the man and woman on Twitter to enlist the public’s help in finding them. James Bay Community School was in a hold-and-secure status while police scoured the neighbourhood.
Officers searched yards, garbage bins and bushes.
Just after 10 a.m., the man was spotted by another officer, triggering a second foot chase. This led the man back toward the police containment area and residents tipped off police to the man’s location.
A resident called 911 about 11:30 a.m. and said the man was hiding in a tree in front of an apartment building in the 300-block of St. James Street. Officers flooded the area, but the man again tried to flee. He was ultimately tackled and arrested by the officer who had responded to the break-and-enter call. A knife was found and seized. The man was taken to hospital and treated for non-lifethreatening injuries sustained jumping over fences.
“It was the assistance of James Bay residents on scene that pointed us to the suspect,” said Sgt. Barrie Cockle. “It’s clear a strong community … exists there, with the many people who helped during the search.”
The man is facing charges of break and enter and obstruction of a police officer. He could also face charges relating to breaching court-ordered conditions, including orders not to possess drugs, break-in tools and weapons.
Police have tentatively identified the woman involved and the investigation continues.