Police say a man was threatened and assaulted near a Parksville trail on Tuesday, March 2 by a man armed with a weapon resembling a firearm. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW))

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

police incident

Suspect and victim arrested in Parksville following assault, area schools alerted out of precaution

Mar 2, 2021 | 3:37 PM

PARKSVILLE — It was a two-for-one arrest for Oceanside RCMP in response to an assault in Parksville involving what turned out to be a weapon resembling a gun.

RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman said a man called their detachment to complain he had been assaulted and threatened with a firearm near the walking trails connecting Springwood Park and Church Rd.

“He then let us know on our way there the person that did the assault had a firearm with him, it upped our response and got all officers in the area, including Police Dog Services.”

Foreman said not long after the complaint was filed, RCMP spotted the 43-year-old suspect well known to police on Fairdowne Rd. on Tuesday, March 2 at about 11:35 a.m.

It turns out the 31-year-old complainant had outstanding warrants and he was also taken into custody.

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He was not seriously injured, Foreman said.

“I’m not sure if it was some sort of business transaction that went wrong, or what the details are. We’re not getting a lot of information from the complainant.”

Foreman said two schools were informed of the incident and shelter-in-place orders applied briefly to Springwood Elementary and Discovery Montesori School.

“In an abundance of caution as school children were out on the field we had them go inside and just hunker down until we had the situation resolved.”

Both men remained in police custody as of Tuesday afternoon, Foreman said.

He said the investigation would discern if charges will be recommended.

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