A Saanich resident says tent city campers are increasingly putting the safety of the neighbourhood at risk, after he found a needle that appeared deliberately stuck into his vehicle tire.
The hypodermic needle was discovered Saturday afternoon, said the neighbour, who only wanted to be identified as Wesley because he fears reprisals for speaking out.
“It’s the fact that a child or something could pick that up,” he said. “It’s one of the many ones that have been left around the neighborhood. It’s definitely a safety issue.”
Since the camp’s inception in May, Wesley estimates he’s called Saanich police about 20 times to raise concerns about potential illegal activity or nuisance. He said he’s trying to protect the neighbourhood, but his complaints have resulted in threats by the Regina Park tent city residents.
On Canada Day, he was walking into his home when one man said, “If you’re going to keep complaining, the complaint department is hanging from a tree.” He man gestured to rope tied as a noose hanging from the tree.
The noose has since been removed.
Two weeks ago, Wesley called police to report that a U-Haul filled with chairs, couches and tables was being unloaded into Regina Park. As he was writing down the licence plate of the U-Haul, a camper threatened to kill him.
Wesley worries about the cleanup bill, which will be borne by Saanich taxpayers.
Wesley has also called police several times to report suspected drug dealing after he has seen a vehicle pull up, exchange packages with a camper and then drive away.
“We are reporting anything that we see, which is why we’re concerned for our safety,” he said, referring to himself and his girlfriend.
An estimated 88 people are living in the park adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway, across from the Uptown shopping centre.
Saanich police say calls for service in the area have skyrocketed. From May 1 to July 5, calls to police were at 507, versus 294 during the same time in 2017. Property crime rose to 90 incidents from 35 in 2017.
On Monday night, Saanich councillors considered a recommendation that the municipality’s $700,000 contingency fund, typically used to cover costs of unforeseen weather events such as heavy snowfalls, should instead cover police costs associated with the encampment at Regina Park.
Saanich police estimate extra policing costs will range from $600,000 to $700,000, according to a finance department report for councillors.
Dan, a 47-year-old tent city resident, said he doesn’t think a camper would purposely place a needle under someone’s tire.
“No one would ever consider doing that,” he said. “A needle isn’t strong enough to puncture a tire. It could have been an accident, it could have dropped out of someone’s bag.”
Dan said he and other tent city residents walk around Regina Park and pick up needles.
He said he thinks some of the neighbour’s complaints are exaggerated, an attempt to pressure Saanich councillors and Saanich police to evict the campers.
“The people here, they spend most of the day just trying to survive,” he said.
Dan said the Regina Park tent city is a much safer place than the now-dismantled tent city on the lawn of the Victoria courthouse, which he said was a scary place.
As for the property crime increase, Dan said there’s no evidence that points to tent city residents as the culprits.
Last week, tent city organizer Chrissy Brett was arrested for allegedly blowing an air horn at the ear of a Saanich firefighter doing a safety inspection. Brett is facing a charge of obstruction.
