(file photo)
A group of residents in a Nanaimo neighborhood, armed with gardening tools, cornered an intruder who fled from police hours earlier.
The incident began around 3 p.m. Saturday, January 25, when a homeowner confronted an intruder at his home in the 2400 block of Yellow Point Road.
Police say they received numerous 911 calls after a fight ensued in which the suspect sustained a head injury and lost a significant amount of blood.
Despite the injury, the suspect manages to escape from the house. Intervening officers, along with a K9 police dog, searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
A few hours later, the same suspect tried to break into another house, this time in the 1700 block of Woobank Road, which is about 2 km from the first house.
Residents in the Cedar neighborhood spotted the suspect and called 911 and reported that “a man with dried blood had tried to break into an apartment.”
The group of neighbors armed themselves with gardening tools, cornered the suspect and prevented him from escaping before police could arrive.
The 34-year-old suspect, who has no fixed abode, was taken to Nanaimo Hospital and treated for his injuries. After his medical discharge, he was transported to the Nanaimo RCMP Detachment, where he was held overnight.
Police say the man also had four outstanding warrants from North Cowichan.
“We are pleased that the suspect was eventually found and none of the homeowners were injured when they tried to subdue him,” Const said. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
No charge was placed on the break and entered.
