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Man Tasered twice by police during takedown in middle of Victoria street

A Victoria man who allegedly threatened people with a knife Saturday afternoon at a high-profile downtown intersection had just been released on bail with conditions not to possess a knife and to monitor his mental health.
Taser takedown
Victoria police are seen arresting a man at Douglas and Yates street in an image taken from video posted to YouTube.

A Victoria man who allegedly threatened people with a knife Saturday afternoon at a high-profile downtown intersection had just been released on bail with conditions not to possess a knife and to monitor his mental health.

Sean Michael Kelly, 36, was tasered twice by Victoria police officers at the busy intersection of Douglas and Yates street that evening. He now faces charges of assault with a weapon, assault with intention to resist arrest and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. 

A YouTube video of the incident shows Victoria police officers first using a Taser when the man ignored commands and tried to walk away about 6 p.m. He worked his way free from the officers’ grip and was again hit with a Taser as he tried to leave.

The police investigation of the suspect began shortly after 4 p.m. when a call was received about a man threatening people with a knife on Douglas near Broughton Street. The first two officers responding obtained a surveillance video from a nearby business and were able to confirm what had happened.

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They recognized Kelly in the video and let their colleagues know they should be on the lookout for him.

The same two officers came across Kelly a few hours later at Douglas and Yates and noticed a knife protruding from his pocket. When told to get rid of the knife, he drew it and held it in his hand, then began to walk into the middle of the intersection, police said.

The officers moved in to subdue him and one of them used his Taser. It did not stop Kelly, but the officers were able to get the knife away from him.

Kelly began moving away again, and a second Taser shot was fired because the officers were concerned that he was heading toward onlookers.

He suffered a cut to his forehead when he hit the pavement, but the injury was minor. One of the officers received cuts and scrapes.

Kelly remains in custody and will appear in court on the charges Aug. 26.

On Aug. 14, he had appeared in Victoria provincial court on charges of mischief, resisting a police officer, damaging property, causing a disturbance and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Kelly, who is now self-represented, signed an undertaking to appear in court on the charges on Sept. 4 and promised to abide by bail conditions not to possess a knife and to look after his mental health so he is not a danger to himself or the public. Kelly promised to advise his bail supervisor if he failed to take his medication or keep his medical appointments.

In 2011, Kelly was convicted of assault using a weapon against the manager of the Cool Aid Dental Clinic. He received a suspended sentence.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner and the Crown counsel’s office are monitoring the most recent incident.

jwbell@timescolonist.com

ldickson@timescolonist.com