The Victoria Police Department says charges have been sworn against a man who allegedly discharged a smoke grenade inside the Ocean Garden Restaurant just hours after he allegedly smashed the front door of the restaurant in an attempt to steal live crabs.
Just before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, police say officers received a call from a witness who observed a man "smash the front door of a restaurant in the 500-Block of Fisgard Street with a rock."
After fleeing on foot prior to police arrival, officers identified, located and arrested the suspect less than two hours after the incident occurred.
According to the owner of Ocean Garden, VicPD told him that the suspect had entered the premises and plucked live crabs out of a tank in an attempt to free the clawed creatures. The suspect didn't steal any equipment or money.
The alleged crab embezzler was released with conditions not to return to the business and to attend a future court date.
"Bill C-75, which came into effect nationally in 2019, legislated a 'principle of restraint' that requires police to release an accused person at the earliest possible opportunity after considering certain factors which include the likelihood the accused will attend court, the imminence of the risk posed to public safety, and the impact on confidence in the criminal justice system. At the time of the first incident, there was no reason to believe the accused would not meet any of the criteria, so to comply with the legislation, he was released," noted a release from VicPD on Aug. 8.
At around 2 p.m. the same day, officers responded to a report of a smoke grenade being discharged inside the same restaurant where there were over 30 patrons at the time. Police believe the same suspect was responsible for both offences.
Just after 9:15 a.m. on Aug. 8, he was located and arrested a second time on Douglas Street. He was charged with one charge of mischief and one charge of breach of undertaking, and then was released again with conditions and a future court appearance.
"The police decided to let him go still. Just for him to come back and commit another crime. We believe the individual is determined to shut us down. As a result we will not be serving OR selling crabs for the time being," noted an Instagram post from the restaurant on the evening of Aug. 7. "Just goes to show how effective our justice system truly is as the suspect is already undergoing charges for a similar crime committed."
With files from Liam Razzell
