Witnesses thought police were raiding a Cowichan Bay dispensary on Monday afternoon but what they saw was officers using an abundance of caution in preparing for a mental health call nearby.
“We were responding to a request to check up on an individual for their well being,” confirmed RCMP Insp. Chris Bear, speaking about the scene around 3 p.m. near the intersection of Cowichan Bay Road and Koksilah Road.
The officer in charge of the North Cowichan/Duncan detachment said comments were made regarding a firearm being involved so police mustered near the dispensary “to discuss an operational response and don their hard body armour to ensure officer safety,” before heading to the call.
Bear said at no time was there a threat to public safety and the individual was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to Cowichan District Hospital for medical assessment.
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