One man is facing at least one charge of assaulting a police officer after an incident involving poop being thrown, a can of bear spray, a porta potty and a bean bag gun.
The incident happened Saturday night, May 18, around 9 p.m. at a loading bay near the intersection of Franklin Street and Mclean Drive in the Downtown Eastside, according to VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin.
When police officers asked a group of men to move away from a loading bay they were blocking, the suspect said he "needed to use the washroom," states Visintin in an email to V.I.A.
"The officer gave him some wipes and he went behind a dumpster to do his business," states Visintin. "When [the man] was done, he took the dirty wipes full of feces and threw it at the officers."
Following the throw, the man allegedly "unloaded a large can of bear spray towards the officers, hitting an officer directly in the face."
The suspect then fled the scene.
Police found him a short time and distance later hiding in a porta potty at McLean Drive and East Hastings Street.
"He refused to exit the porta potty," states Visintin. "Less lethal bean bag shot gun rounds were deployed to assist in taking the suspect into custody."
The man has been arrested and is facing one charge of assaulting a police officer. The officer who was hit with bear spray received medical treatment.
