Man charged after threatening to commit murder in Vancouver’s West End

A man has been charged following an arrest by Vancouver Police that was captured on bystander video this week in the West End.

A man called 9-1-1 on June 19 at 12:30 p.m. stating he had a knife and was heading to a park near Thurlow and Comox streets to kill someone that had previously assaulted him. Multiple VPD officers, including crisis negotiators and members of the Emergency Response Team, responded and began searching for the man throughout the West End.

Officers located the suspect sitting on a bench on Davie Street at Thurlow, approximately three blocks from the park. Believing he was armed with a knife and planning to commit a murder, the officers attempted to take the man into custody.

When the suspect repeatedly failed to comply with the officers’ lawful commands, police deployed a Taser and beanbag rounds to safely take the man into custody without injury to the public or the police.

Bradley McElroy has now been charged with uttering threats.

He has been released by the courts. His next court appearance is July 3.