Man arrested after erratic behaviour at shopping centre
Two Burnaby RCMP officers were injured Tuesday afternoon during the arrest of a man who had been behaving erratically.
At about 12:30 p.m. Burnaby Mounties responded to a call of a robbery in progress at the Scotiabank in The Crest shopping centre located in the 8600-block of 10th Avenue in Burnaby.
"As it unfolded it became evident there was something more going on," said Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Chuck McDonald, the first officer on the scene.
"His behaviour suggested that there was more going on with him than the average person and he was posing an immediate threat to the staff and customers at the bank."
McDonald said he doesn't believe the man intended to rob the bank. He had apparently earlier been in the Pharmasave store a couple doors down, displaying erratic behaviour.
"It appeared any problem had resolved itself but obviously it just transferred itself to another location," he said.
At the bank, McDonald attempted to arrest him but ended up straining a shoulder and getting a couple of bruises. When another officer arrived at the scene a struggle ensued during which the second officer also injured his shoulder and McDonald was hit in the head a couple times with a heavy metal three-hole punch.
"Both of us got banged up pretty good but in the end no one was seriously injured," McDonald said.
"I don't think we fully understand what was going on with him yet," he said of the suspect.
The man remains in custody and police are requesting that he be remanded in custody.
He faces charges of causing a disturbance and various assault charges, but not robbery.
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
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