Vancouver Police say wrong person arrested and shot with rubber bullets
Police in Vancouver say officers arrested the wrong person last week in Yaletown in “a case of mistaken identity.”
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says the incident happened on Wednesday after police “obtained reliable information” that a man wanted across Canada was in the area near Richards Street and Pacific Blvd.
Police say the suspect is wanted in connection with a “violent home invasion” that happened in Calgary.
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#VPDNews Vancouver Police have notified the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner about a mistaken arrest that occurred last week in Yaletown.
Media Release: https://t.co/u1xC6dsiAQ pic.twitter.com/8ZhCZKfQKY
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) February 27, 2023
But on Feb. 22, the VPD’s Emergency Response Team was sent to arrest the man, adding that he was “considered armed and dangerous.”
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Officers found and shot a person with two rubber bullets from an ARWEN gun and arrested them, but shortly after, police determined that it wasn’t the suspect.
Elijah Barnett points to an area where he was shot by the VPD. (CityNews Image)
He was released at the scene, police say, and also received medical attention.
The VPD notes that senior officials have apologized to the person, and the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner has been called in to review the case.
