Man with Sword Arrested in Vancouver (Video)

Man Pulls Sword on Vancouver Skytrain

A man who drew a sword on Vancouver's Skytrain was confronted by police after several passengers phoned for help. The man left the train in downtown Vancouver, and had attracted a bit of a crowd when the police arrived. The cops found their Tasers and non-lethal rounds ineffective, so they had to handle it the old-fashioned way: by tackling the guy.

The barefoot, sword-wielding man was arrested on the corner of Burrard and West Georgia.

Via VPD Constable Lindsay Houghton:

Vancouver Police officers have safely taken a man into custody after he was allegedly waving a sword on the Skytrain and in downtown Vancouver.

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Crazy man in the streets of Vancouver

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Shortly before 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, Transit Police received calls that a man was on the Skytrain at Metrotown, allegedly acting irrationally, repeatedly unsheathing a sword-type object. The man continued on the Skytrain towards downtown Vancouver and was at the Burrard Skytrain Station when Transit officers made contact with him and watched as he began waving around the sword.

The man exited the Skytrain platform onto Burrard Street and made his way to the northeast corner of Burrard and W. Georgia, where Vancouver Police officers were quickly gathering to assist Transit officers. They began negotiating with the man as VPD patrol and Emergency Response Team members arrived to ensure the safety of bystanders and clear the area.

The man’s actions allegedly became increasingly irrational and he was not complying with commands to drop the sword. Out of concern for the man’s safety and the safety of bystanders who were gathering nearby, VPD Emergency Response Team members deployed multiple rounds from an Arwen gun. The Arwen rounds were ineffective and the man continued to wave the sword. Officers then deployed the Taser, which was also ineffective.

Shortly before 2 p.m., the man ran north and then west across Burrard towards Melville Street and officers gave chase on foot. He was tackled by officers and the sword was taken from him and recovered.