ON Friday, September 25, the Victoria Police Department issued an alert warning residents that a dangerous high-risk sex offender Scott Jones was at large in the community. A Canada-wide warrant had been issued for Scott Jones for being unlawfully at large.

On Sunday, September 27 at approximately 9:20 a.m., the West Shore RCMP received a call from Mohammed Rashead, a driver with Blue Bird Taxi, reporting suspicious activity at Superstore, located at 835 Langford Parkway, Langford. Rashead advised he had been given money by a male suspect, identified by police as Scott Jones, who asked him to go inside the store and purchase clothing for him. Jones told Rashead that he could not go inside the store himself as police were looking for him. Rashead left Jones inside his taxi cab, went into Superstore and called police right away.

“West Shore RCMP Constable Meighan Massey attended the scene and recognized Jones from the alert issued by Victoria Police Department. Upon approaching the cab, Jones noticed Constable Massey and barricaded himself inside the vehicle. Jones began trying to light the interior upholstery of the cab on fire. That’s when Constable Massey smashed the window of the cab and arrested Jones. Jones has since been transferred into Victoria Police custody. The West Shore RCMP would like to thank the quick actions of Mr. Rashead and Constable Massey, who is a 20-year veteran of the force, for their outstanding actions which lead to the capture of a dangerous high-risk sex offender,” said Constable Nancy Saggar, West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer.

Rashead said: “I did my duty as a citizen and am happy I helped the RCMP catch such a dangerous man.” 

West Shore RCMP arrested Jones for being unlawfully at large as well as mischief for the damage caused by the fire to the inside of the cab. Thankfully no one was injured in this incident, police said.