B.C. man arrested for allegedly wielding syringe with needle attached to toy arrow

By The Canadian Press on March 17, 2023.

A toy bow and arrow, allegedly wielded by a 32-year-old man in Nanaimo, B.C., on Monday, March 13, is seen in this handout photo taken by RCMP. Officers took the man into custody after he was allegedly threatening people in a mall parking lot with a stick and the toy bow and arrow that had a syringe with a needle attached to the arrow's tip. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-RCMP, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

NANAIMO – Police say they have arrested a man in Nanaimo, B.C., who was allegedly threatening people with a toy bow and arrow that had a syringe with a needle attached to the arrow’s tip.

Mounties say they were called to the parking lot of the Port Place Mall in the Vancouver Island city on Monday after the man was reportedly threatening people with a stick and the toy bow and arrow.

Police say the arrow “appeared to have” a hypodermic needle attached to the end, and the man was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and struggle with officers.

RCMP say the 32-year-old man now faces charges of assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, resisting arrest and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

Mounties say the man will remain in custody until he’s due back in court on March 28.