A Saanich Police K9 officer and his trusted partner are being credited with the arrest of a male that is believed to have unlawfully entered numerous cars throughout the course of the evening.
On Sunday, December 7th, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Saanich Police were contacted by an alert citizen who reported a male who appeared to be acting suspiciously in the 3200 block of Aldridge Street, near North Dairy and Shelbourne Street.
Numerous officers flooded the area with the intent on locating the male, who was described as “possibly looking into and entering vehicles in the area”. Despite the efforts of numerous officers, the suspect male was not immediately located.
A Saanich Police K9 officer and his dog responded to the area and remained in the area with a watchful eye. Approximately a half hour later, a suspect matching the description of the suspicious male, was observed and subsequently questioned.
The male, a 50 year old from the Greater Victoria area, was noted to have a police history including numerous property related offences. A new looking laptop recovered from the suspect who claimed it had been given to him by a friend. Without sufficient evidence for an arrest at that point, the male was cautioned and send on his way.
The K9 officer kept a watchful eye on the suspect as he left the area. Prior to being out of view of the officer, the male crossed the road and entered into another neighbourhood. The K9 officer, believing the male was possibly about to commit further crime, drove his vehicle several blocks and once again began looking for the suspect to ensure that the suspect was leaving the area.
As the K9 officer drove down Bay Street, he observed the same suspect male in the front cab of a small pickup truck. The K9 officer stopped his vehicle and observed that the suspect ran from the scene. The K9 officer took chase but shortly thereafter lost sight of the suspect.
The officer called out numerous times to the suspect prior to deploying his Police Service Dog.
Minutes after deploying the dog, the K9 officer and his partner located the suspect male, several properties away, hiding near a bush between two parked vehicles.
The suspect was taken into custody without issue. The suspect was later released on a Promise To Appear with a court date set for mid-January.
The laptop computer that had been previously seized was later confirmed to have been stolen from a parked vehicle. Charges being sought against the male are theft and possession of stolen property.
File 2014-24091 / 14-24095
Sgt. Steve Eassie #158