Submitted. Yesterday afternoon the Abbotsford Police Department received a call from a man reporting that he needed assistance getting to hospital. Police attended his residence and spoke with the man who advised officers that he needed the assistance of the Mental Health System.
During interactions with police, the man expressed his interest in police issued firearms and alluded to the fact that he had received special military training and was thinking of disarming a police officer.
For safety, the man was handcuffed and transported to hospital to seek medical treatment. Upon arriving to hospital, the man was placed onto a hospital bed and was in the process of being secured with restraints by both hospital staff and police, when the man grabbed a hold of one of the officer’s holstered firearms.
At this time, a second officer deployed a conducted energy weapon (CEW) which resulted in the man releasing his hold on the firearm. Police along with hospital staff were able to successfully secure the man without any further incident.
Although no serious injuries were sustained, minor redness was noted as a result of the touch stun deployment of the CEW. The APD appreciates this man reaching out to police for help and hopes that the man receives the treatment he needs.