Penticton man grabs officer’s gun as police attempt to transport him to hospital

A Penticton man attempted to grab a police officer's gun yesterday when they attempted to apprehend him and transport him to the hospital.

Penticton RCMP officers were executing a Form 4 Warrant of Apprehension issued by a Penticton doctor. The warrant compels police to apprehend an individual and transport them to the hospital for treatment, according to the RCMP's news release. Police must follow the warrant.

During this call, the man was extremely combative, said Const. Dayne Lyons, media liaison for the Penticton RCMP, in the press release. During the altercation he kept reaching for the officer’s service pistol and at one point had full grasp of the handle.

At no point did the man un-holster it but four officers were needed in order to subdue the man, Lyons said. The officers and the man were not injured in the exchange.

"Our officers (as first responders), regardless of where they serve, are called to mental health related incidences with increasing frequency. We recognize that while police are often engaged, the solution to mental health related issues requires a greater societal response," Lyons said.

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