NANAIMO — Local Mounties had to deploy a Police Service Dog to subdue a man in downtown Nanaimo.
A shirtless, emotional man was found by an off-duty officer and Police Dog Services handler at Esplanade and Terminal Ave. around 9:20 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 18.
The man, yelling in anger and sweating profusely, was walking in and out of traffic and approaching several people nearby as he made his way to the intersection of Albert St. and Cavan St. The officer tried to speak with the man to calm him down.
“[The off-duty officer] learned the individual’s suitcase had been stolen, he was very upset about that but he was not interested in any way of engaging with the police officer. He threatened him with death, he threatened to kill his police dog.”
O’Brien said the man was unarmed, but threatened the officer with the steel-toed boots he was wearing at the time. It was later discovered the man had ingested a large amount of cocaine earlier in the day which police believe explains his erratic behaviour.
Once additional officers arrived on scene, PSD Herc was deployed by his handler and took the man to the ground.
“He received some puncture wounds to an arm and was taken to hospital for treatment then later taken to cells when he was calm,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said the nature of the incident and the immediate threat to the public didn’t allow for police to cordon off the area, with multiple vehicles coming close to hitting the man and officers.
“There’s so many risk factors not only to the officer, to Herc, but to the individual and to the public. Deploying Herc was the best use of resources at that time.”
O’Brien added the video, while capturing the arrest, didn’t show the work and conversation between the officer and the man prior to deployment of PSD Herc.
Once sober, the man was served with a notice to appear in court for one count of uttering threats and released. He is due to appear in court in December.
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