'Serious assault' that involved a large sword sends 2 people to hospital: Vancouver police
Two people were taken to hospital Monday night over what Vancouver police are calling a "serious assault" that involved a large sword.
Police had the area of Oak Street near 12th Avenue blocked in the evening after the incident.
Vancouver police said they received "a number of 911 calls" at about 7:30 p.m. about an assault-in-progress Monday.
"It was reported to us that the assault involved somebody in possession of a large sword or a samurai sword," Sgt. Steve Addison said.
Addison said as officers were arriving, a 29-year-old suspect fled the building, adding that he was involved "in some sort of altercation" with someone inside the building. Addison said the individuals knew each other.
Witnesses told CTV News Vancouver they saw a man covered in blood run out of a building.
"There was a guy in the window saying, 'Somebody's been hit by a sword.' He came sort of charging at us, a few of us across the street standing there and we sort of scattered," said Nick Lakowski, who witnessed the incident.
"He jumped on a car and kind of shattered the windshield of that, rolled off and the police tried to take him down."
Addison said officers used a Taser while arresting the suspect, which he said was ineffective. Bean-bag rounds were also used during the arrest.
"Quite simply the reason for that is that it was the safest way to stop this man, to take him into custody, to prevent him from causing harm to himself, to prevent him from causing harm to anyone else," Addison explained.
Both the suspect and the 59-year-old victim were taken to hospital. The victim, who was mostly injured in his face and upper body, will likely survive, Addison said.
The suspect has more serious injuries, however, and the injuries may have been self-inflicted, Addison said.
An officer was also injured during the pursuit of the suspect, but those injuries are minor.
Police say they're still investigating what happened and have locked down the apartment building where the altercation happened.
No charges have been laid and while B.C.'s police watchdog was notified of the incident, the agency is not investigating.
The Independent Investigations Office said in a news release Tuesday afternoon that most of the injuries sustained by the two men "occurred prior to police attendance."
"They do not meet the IIO’s mandated threshold for serious harm as defined by the Police Act," a statement from the IIO said. "The IIO will therefore not launch an investigation."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.