Skip to content

Astute officer arrests pair outside business at 2:20 a.m.

Const. Sue McLeod, a canine handler with VicPD, was patrolling near Gorge and Tillicum roads around 2:20 a.m. Monday when she spotted a nearby business' storage outbuilding with a door suspiciously ajar.

An astute Victoria police officer, acting on a hunch, led to the arrests of two individuals, including one who was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants.

Const. Sue McLeod, a canine handler with VicPD, was patrolling near Gorge and Tillicum roads around 2:20 a.m. Monday when she spotted a nearby business' storage outbuilding with a door suspiciously ajar.

The officer quickly located two individuals – a man and a woman – in the area and approached them.

Upon querying both names, the officer learned that the man, 31, was in breach of a court undertaking and probation, for being out past his curfew. The woman, 19, was wanted on two outstanding warrants from West Shore RCMP.

The officer arrested both individuals and searched the man's backpack. Inside was a pair of bolt cutters, a pry bar and gloves – tools typically used for breaking into buildings, police say.

Saanich police officers contacted the business owner, and it was quickly determined that the outbuilding's door was accidentally left ajar, and hadn't been broken in to.

"Whether or not something was going to happen, we may never know," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen. "This is another example of great work by our area patrol officers who, just by virtue of being out there, resulted in these arrests."

kslavin@saanichnews.com