Around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Victoria Police responded to reports that a man driving a rental vehicle was driving erratically and possibly impaired. At the same time, people reported a road rage and dangerous driving incident in the Hillside Quadra area with matching vehicle descriptions. When police arrived, they located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop and officers did not pursue in order to reduce the risk to the public. Officers were later able to apprehend him at Hillside Avenue and Doncaster Drive and the man exited the vehicle and approached officers. He tried to fight with the officers. An officer used a Taser on the man and was able to detain him without further incident. He was taken to hospital for medical evaluation, which VicPD says is standard when a Taser is used. Officers also learned the man had previously been involved in an incident in Saanich near UVic. On Sept. 1, also around 3:45 p.m., Saanich Police responded to a Tesla being driven dangerously in the area of ​​Cedar Hill Cross Road at Shelbourne Street, eastbound on Victoria University. The police attempted to stop the vehicle. READ MORE: Tesla driver crashes into Oak Bay police vehicle near UVic The driver then reportedly drove into oncoming traffic, at which point police continued the pursuit due to the threat to public safety. Saanich Police also called for additional assistance and officers from Oak Bay Police responded. The Tesla crashed into two Saanich police vehicles and crashed head-on into an Oak Bay police vehicle near Campus Crescent on the west side of the university. The Oak Bay police officer and the Saanich police officers suffered minor injuries and the airbags in the police cruiser deployed. The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team worked with the Tesla driver who refused to comply with officers’ directions. Officers in this incident used a handgun to subdue the man. After the Victoria incident, Saanich police officers attended and imposed a 14-month driving ban issued by the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. Saanich Police and Victoria Police continue to investigate both incidents. In the Victoria incident, the vehicle is described as a white, late model, Hyundai Kona. VicPD is asking anyone who witnessed the dangerous driving or has video to call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1. With files from CHEK’s Joe Perkins

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