Reported kidnapping was actually bachelor party prank, Victoria police say
The Victoria Police Department says it has released race-based use-of-force data for a six-year period after being ordered by the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner to share the statistics in November 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A significant police response – including officers from the heavily armed emergency response team – was marshalled in response to reports of a potential kidnapping in Victoria last week.
First responders fielded 'multiple' 911 calls about an alarming incident where 'a group of males had placed a bag over another man's head and were pulling him into a white van' near the courthouse on Thursday morning, according to the Victoria Police Department.
'Given the nature of the incident, its proximity to a high-security area, and corroborating eyewitness accounts, several VicPD investigative units, along with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team were deployed to respond swiftly and thoroughly,' a statement from the department said.
Police located the van, identified those involved and determined that no crime had taken place.
'A few hours later officers identified several individuals associated with the vehicle and determined that the situation was, in fact, just a bachelor party prank,' VicPD's statement continued.
Authorities are warning people about the dangers of public pranks like this one, noting that this one wasted police resources and caused undue alarm.
'The initial reports led us to believe a violent kidnapping was in progress, requiring an immediate and significant response to a situation that turned out to be false,' VicPD Staff Sgt. Shawn Robson said.
'We are urging everyone to please be cognizant of how any prank will be viewed to others in our community.'
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