A Vancouver man is facing several charges after allegedly threatening his mother and Port Moody Police officers, one of whom was close to firing his Taser at the suspect.
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9, PMPD officers responded to a complaint from a woman who had been in an argument with her adult son while driving. She said he'd smashed the dashboard and passenger door of her vehicle with a large hammer before he fled on foot.
The 39-year-old man, described as being about 6'4" and weighing 240 pounds, was located as he fled along the 2400-block of St. Johns Street; the officer lost sight of the man as he ran behind the Burrard Public House.
A second officer in his vehicle, who entered the laneway from a different direction, spotted the man in an alcove where, "based on the male's stance it appears he may have been attempting to ambush the [first] officer as he rounded the corner," according to a PMPD release.
When the man saw the second officer he reportedly raised the hammer above his head and allegedly charged towards the officer, who was still seated in his police vehicle.
At the same time, the first officer entered the laneway and saw the man allegedly charging his partner, drew his firearm and told the man to "stop and drop his weapon."
The man turned and, with the hammer raised, reportedly began advancing on the first officer.
He continued to ignore the officer's commands and continued to approach despite having a firearm pointed at him.
The second officer got out of his vehicle, drew his conducted energy weapon and warned the man he would be tasered.
At this point the man suddenly stopped, looked around, dropped the hammer and surrendered without further incident, police said.
"This entire scenario could have ended quite differently had it not been for the restraint of the officers on scene," said Const. Luke van Winkel.
