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Mounties use Taser device to subdue home invasion suspect in Sechelt

Sunshine Coast RCMP used a Taser device to subdue a man who resisted arrest after allegedly breaking into several homes in Sechelt on Thursday, Nov. 26. Police say they received multiple calls from different residents on Wharf Avenue around 5 p.m.
RCMP

Sunshine Coast RCMP used a Taser device to subdue a man who resisted arrest after allegedly breaking into several homes in Sechelt on Thursday, Nov. 26.

Police say they received multiple calls from different residents on Wharf Avenue around 5 p.m. reporting that a male had broken into their homes.

“One resident was home with his wife and child, when the male entered the front door and was yelling nonsensically while they told him he was in the wrong house,” police said in a release.

The man remained in the house, entering the kitchen where he picked up a large kitchen knife, police said.

“When police arrived, the male was in the kitchen using a closet door as a shield and threatening to kill the police officers,” Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam told Coast Reporter Friday.

Police deployed a conductive energy weapon – or Taser device – and took the 26-year-old man into custody. He was transported to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Hallam said she couldn’t comment on whether the suspect was armed at the time he was shot with the conductive energy weapon, as the case is still under investigation.

In the release, Hallam said officers on the scene followed their training and used “appropriate intervention” to apprehend the man safely and effectively.

“This was obviously frightening for the family involved and we are thankful that no one was seriously injured,” Hallam said. “These sorts of incidents are extremely high risk for everyone involved.”
Hallam told Coast Reporter at least one other home was cleared by police before they entered the residence where the intruder was found. This was done for several reasons, she said, including “but not limited to, dark or missing house numbers and conflicting witnesses in the area.”

Police, she said, “attended inside the residence as quickly as possible and any delays were minimal and did not affect the outcome. We appreciate the assistance that witnesses provided last night and we wish the family well.”