Man arrested with help from police dog after restaurant damaged with steel beam

A man was arrested with the help of police dog Obi last night after a restaurant downtown was damaged with a steel beam.

At 8 pm, officers were called to a restaurant in the 600-block of Johnson Street for a report that a man had entered the restaurant with a crowbar and began damaging walls.

The restaurant was occupied by staff and customers at the time of the incident.

Police said that officers were able to locate the suspect, who had a knife in his possession, in an alley behind the restaurant. The man was attempting to flee the scene by climbing onto a nearby rooftop.

Eventually, Obi was deployed to assist in the arrest because the suspect refused to comply.

Officers continued their investigation and learned that the weapon used in the incident was a large steel beam. Officers searched the man following the arrest and located additional weapons in his possession.

The suspect was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the arrest. He was cleared medically and later released from police custody with a court date and conditions. He faces recommended charges of mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

If you have information about this incident and have not spoken with officers, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.