ON Wednesday shortly after 9 p.m., the Delta Police Department (DPD) received calls from witnesses reporting an attempted carjacking in the 8000-block of Scott Road.
DPD and Surrey RCMP officers located the suspect near the intersection of 80 Avenue and Scott Road. Police advised the suspect that he was under arrest; however, the suspect failed to comply with the officers’ instructions.
As a result, a DPD officer deployed one 40mm less-than-lethal projectile, striking the suspect in the leg. The suspect immediately complied with follow-up police commands, and no further use of force was required.
The suspect was arrested, transported to the hospital for medical clearance and is now in custody awaiting a first court appearance. The suspect’s identity cannot be released until charges are approved and sworn in court, police said.
The carjacking victim did not receive any injury.
The DPD said that it would like to acknowledge and thank the witnesses who reported the incident and the action they took to keep an eye on the suspect in a manner that ensured their safety. It added that this incident highlights the importance of a strong partnership between the community and the DPD.
The DPD said it ensures that its officers are trained in de-escalation techniques and supplied with modern less-than-lethal tools to safely intervene in high-risk situations.
Acting Inspector James Sandberg said on Thursday: “We are proud of the actions our officers took in this situation. In a high-stress and dynamic situation, our officers relied on their Integrated Communications and Tactics (ICAT) training to safely arrest the suspect.”
Police said that some inaccurate information was shared on social media shortly after the incident’s occurrence.
Sandberg said: “We continue to be challenged by the speed of social media. We ask the public to not speculate or share information without knowing accurate details. We remain committed to keeping our community aware by sharing relevant and public safety information as soon as possible.”
