Police are recommending six charges following a string of reports in just 3 1/2 hours that involved an assault on a bus driver and attempts to hijack two cars.
The charges, stemming from incidents that began with an assault of a bus driver in downtown Victoria on Friday evening, consists of assault, two counts of attempted robbery, attempted theft over $5,000, mischief and obstructing police.
Victoria police said a B.C. Transit bus was on Douglas Street near View Street about 8:30 p.m. when a man boarded and attacked the driver. Police could not locate a suspect when they arrived.
They were called again about 9:30 p.m. to the area of Government and Courtney streets, where the driver of a security vehicle said someone had jumped into the front of the vehicle and tried to grab the keys. The driver was able to wrestle the keys away from the man and got out of the vehicle.
The man fled.
The episode continued about 9:55 p.m. when a man climbed through the driver’s window of a second bus, climbed on top of the driver and tried to take control. He inadvertently turned the bus off as he made his way through the window, and three passengers joined the fray, forcing him to leave.
At 10:30 p.m., a man attempted to steal an occupied vehicle on Johnson Street, between Douglas and Blanshard streets. The people inside were able to fend him off.
The final incident happened at 11:55 p.m. when police responded to a Kingston Street residence after a report of a man banging on the front door. The man, who refused to identify himself, was arrested. Police determined his identity through fingerprints.
Dealing with the incidents over the short time period was very unusual for the police, said Victoria police Const. Matt Rutherford.
David Levasseur, 37, remains in custody.
B.C. Transit spokesman Jonathon Dyck said the drivers involved are being given support by the corporation.
“We’re working with the Victoria Police Department, as appropriate, for the investigation and court proceedings.”
Dyck said safety is the top priority for B.C. Transit.
“We take any reports of assaults on an operator very seriously, so we will undertake an internal review to identify if there are any improvements that can be made to improve the safety of transit operators.”
The drivers’ union, Unifor Local 333, is looking at barriers that could be installed in buses to protect operators, said president Ben Williams.
