By Jill Sperling

Man arrested after swinging hatchet at officers

Jun 3, 2016 | 3:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP officers were required to fend off a hatchet-wielding man near the Northhills Mall this morning, June 3. 

At 10:30 Friday morning (June 3), officers patrolling the bus loop on Tranquille Road and Sydney Avenue were informed of two men drinking alcohol at the bus stop. 

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One of the men became belligerent with officers and began swinging a hatchet at them. 

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says officers tasered the man, but the man continued to swing his weapon. 

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He was pepper sprayed, which caused him to drop the hatchet, but he then ran into the Northhills Mall. 

Shelkie says the 29-year-old man was tasered once more in order to subdue him. 

“This happened in a very public place, both in the parking lot of the mall and then within the mall,” Shelkie said. “All kinds of dangerous things could have happened to bystanders and citizens on the outside of the action in that he had a hatchet and who knows what could have happened.

“Luckily, the officers were able to gain control of the situation and take him into custody.”

Shelkie says officers decided against the use of lethal force because of the risk to public safety. 

The suspect was scheduled to appear before a judge Friday.