Canada Man Brandishing Sword Taken Down By Police In Downtown Vancouver

[Archived_Member16]

May 30, 2011

Man brandishing sword taken down by police in downtown Vancouver

By Sam Cooper, The Province - May 30, 2011 6:35 PM

Vancouver police and paramedics escort a man to a waiting ambulance after an incident at Burrard and Georgia streets on Monday.

Photograph by: Ian Lindsa

PNG Tasers and “non-lethal” rounds fired by police bounced harmlessly off a disturbed man who waved a three-foot sword and ran toward horrified onlookers in downtown Vancouver on Monday afternoon, before getting arrested.

The explosive standoff shut down the Burrard and West Georgia streets intersection and had office workers, transit riders and tourists surging towards yellow police lines to watch the drama unfold.

A stocky Indo-Canadian man wearing a black turban and leather jacket had boarded the SkyTrain at Metrotown in Burnaby and rode all the way to Burrard Station while sheathing and unsheathing his ornate silver and gold-handled sword from a red protective case before Transit Police could confront and try to calm him.

Vancouver police were called and a tense standoff ensued in front of Christ Church Cathedral on Burrard Street. Const. Lindsey Houghton said the unidentified man became “increasingly irrational,” refusing commands to drop the sword.

VPD Emergency Response Team members fired about four “non-lethal” rounds from an Arwen gun, which is typically used to shoot rubber bullets.

“The Arwen rounds were ineffective and the man continued to wave the sword,” Houghton said. Officers then shot Taser barbs at the man but police believe they were repelled by the man’s thick leather jacket, Houghton said.

One woman who was just metres away told The Province that after hearing about four “dull pops” a crowd of onlookers started “slowly backing up. And then he starts running at us.”

Another witness, Thiago Martins, said he saw the man run about 30 metres north on Burrard, avoiding one officer’s trip attempt before getting shoulder-checked to the ground and arrested.

A Province reporter saw the suspect being walked scowling in handcuffs to a waiting ambulance at about 2:40 p.m.

Houghton said the suspect is facing possible weapons-related charged and police will ask the courts to consider a psychological examination.

“We’re hopeful the man gets the help he needs, and we’re very fortunate that no one got hurt,” he said.

Transit Police Staff Sgt. Ken Schinkel said it seems the man made it past multiple stations from Metrotown to Burrard Station because the first call Transit Police received indicated the suspect was in the mall, not on the train, and officers were not able to locate him on transit surveillance cameras.

“By the time we got the second call he was already at Stadium [SkyTrain] station,” Schinkel said. “We were kind of going in the wrong direction initially.”

scooper@theprovince.com

© Copyright (c) The Province

source: http://www.theprovince.com/news/tod...+police+downtown+Vancouver/4863782/story.html

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

why did the tasers etc bounce off ?? another miracle ??

 

[Mai Harinder Kaur]

So much for convincing my fellow Canadians that kirpans are not weapons and school children can be trusted with them in school.

 

[spnadmin]

Mai ji

Yes...that was yet one more story this year where my heart sank to my knees.

 

[Mai Harinder Kaur]

Mai ji

Yes...that was yet one more story this year where my heart sank to my knees.

The next question is how do we counteract this - and remain in chardi kala?

 

[spnadmin]

When the going gets tough the tough get going. I think this can be done, but a powerhouse of expertise will be needed.

 

[Kanwaljit.Singh]

So far the news didn't specify if the guy was a Sikh (which I guess he is) or even Indian origin for that matter! But now the cat is out of the bag.

I think now we can only carry full Sri Sahibs outside homes during Nagar Kirtans.

 

[Archived_Member16]

Weapons Charges Laid in Sword Wielding Incident

May 31, 2011 - Vancouver Police Department

Charges have been laid against a man who allegedly wielded a sword in downtown Vancouver yesterday afternoon.

The dramatic incident took place shortly after 1:30 p.m. on May 30th, in front of hundreds of bystanders at the intersection of Burrard and W. Georgia Streets. Out of concern for the public, the man was tackled by members of the Vancouver Police as he started running towards onlookers with his sword, after attempts to gain control of the man with the Arwen and Taser were unsuccessful.

Charged with one count of possession of a dangerous weapon is Paramveer Singh Rarru, a 23 year old Surrey resident. Rarru is previously known to police. He has been remanded into custody and police have asked the courts to consider a psychological examination.

“Incidents like this can be unpredictable and events can unfold quickly. Our primary focus was the safety of all of the bystanders, police officers, and the man we were dealing with,” said Constable Lindsey Houghton, Vancouver Police Media Relations Officer. “Through the coordinated efforts of the Vancouver Police and Transit Police we were able to safely take the man into custody and prevent anyone from being hurt.”

Vancouver Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident that has yet to speak with police to contact them at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

source: http://vpdreleases.icontext.com/2011/05/31/weapons-charges-laid-in-sword-wielding-incident/

 

[Mai Harinder Kaur]

Paramveer Singh Rarru

Well, that settles that. Even if he's never seen the inside of a gurudwara, he's one of us (in the public perception).

...And I'm afraid we will all bear the brunt of his action.motherlylove

Of course, he might be from RAW or RSS, not that that would alter the public perception.

 

[BhagatSingh]

Dear Diary,

he's one of us (in the public perception)

no... He IS one of us.

I will own upto my responsibility. This act is the result of the 5 Vices, which I, being a human have as well. I admit that I have been under their control for all my life. I will do something about my own before I criticize another for being controlled by them. (pause)

 

[Harry Haller]

Dear Diary,

no... He IS one of us.

I will own upto my responsibility. This act is the result of the 5 Vices, which I, being a human have as well. I admit that I have been under their control for all my life. I will do something about my own before I criticize another for being controlled by them. (pause)

although, yes, he IS one of us, I think you are incorrect here BhagatSinghji, you , like me, may be under the control of the 5 vices, but we also have free will with which we can decide exactly decide what we want to do or not.,

If this sikh turns out to be needing psychiatric help, then I am afraid it is likely that there is no question of gurmukh or manmukh, merely someone who is ill,

 

[BhagatSingh]

Harry ji,
The 5 vices are like a filter (as well as auto-pilot as I mention in the other thread) through which you receive and interpret information from the world. Your "free will" is dependent on the information you receive and how you interpret it. The five-vices guide your free will. i have no doubt he pulled out his sabre under free will.

Humans are programmed by Evolution through natural selection to function through the 5 Vices. This mechanism is 100,000 years old, and today we have the tools to wipe ourselves off the planet, along with most other forms of life...

 

[spnadmin]

If this sikh turns out to be needing psychiatric help, then I am afraid it is likely that there is no question of gurmukh or manmukh, merely someone who is ill,

I really agree with your statement Harry Haller ji. And I hope he gets the help he needs sooner rather than later. Unfortunately once an individual is apprehended by police for acting in a frankly psychotic way, a "danger to self and others," it is unlikely this will happen.

Someone, an advocate, will need to step in and have him released on the promise of supervised psychiatric care.

It is more likely that he will linger in jail for a few months, or in a state hospital, in restraints, over-medicated, misdiagnosed, unbathed, in his own filth, unable to communicate with family, even in a situation where authorities will not divulge his whereabouts. I will not continue the list because it is more information that most want. This is the likely outcome ....and I speak from professional knowledge on this point. Not telling scary stories about the mentally ill.

This is the price paid when early symptoms of psychosis are ignored and treatment for the first onset is delayed, sometimes for years. The clinical record indicates that for most these emerge in mid to late adolescence. Lotta stories out there like this. He is one of those stories and he is a Sikh.

 

[Mai Harinder Kaur]

I really agree with your statement Harry Haller ji. And I hope he gets the help he needs sooner rather than later. Unfortunately once an individual is apprehended by police for acting in a frankly psychotic way, a "danger to self and others," it is unlikely this will happen.

Someone, an advocate, will need to step in and have him released on the promise of supervised psychiatric care.

It is more likely that he will linger in jail for a few months, or in a state hospital, in restraints, over-medicated, misdiagnosed, unbathed, in his own filth, unable to communicate with family, even in a situation where authorities will not divulge his whereabouts. I will not continue the list because it is more information that most want. This is the likely outcome ....and I speak from professional knowledge on this point. Not telling scary stories about the mentally ill.

This is the price paid when early symptoms of psychosis are ignored and treatment for the first onset is delayed, sometimes for years. The clinical record indicates that for most these emerge in mid to late adolescence. Lotta stories out there like this. He is one of those stories and he is a Sikh.

I believe psychiatric cases are handled more humanely in Canada. At least I hope they are.

Whether or not, you are right. Ignoring or denying the early stages of mental illness is dangerous to everyone. Unfortunately, in some ways, we are a backward community and even getting counselling - much less psychiatric care - carries a stigma. I know when I was struggling through full-blown PTSD after 1984, part of the reason I left the sangat was because I knew I was "goofy" and I didn't feel up to battling those prejudices. (It is a myth BTW, that a "mentally ill" person has no idea they are sick. So know, some don't. I knew.) To this day, I occasionally get the beginning of flashbacks; fortunately, I have tools to handle that with and it never gets beyond that vague feeling of unreality.

My eldest brother is a psychiatrist (retired) and he has for long said that the biggest problem a Sikh with psychological problem has to overcome is - other Sikhs. Our lack of compassion is sad and tragic.

Again, as a community, we need to grow up. Mental illness needs to be treated as an illness, not as an individual volitionally misbehaving. An incident like this shows that our present attitude cuts the whole community. He needs help not only for his own sake, but for all of ours, as well.

 

[spnadmin]

Mai ji

Thanks for finishing my thoughts. When you say it, most will accept it more readily than they would if i say it.

My eldest brother is a psychiatrist (retired) and he has for long said that the biggest problem a Sikh with psychological problem has to overcome is - other Sikhs. Our lack of compassion is sad and tragic.

Apprehended as he was, he will be viewed first as a felon, and then as a felon with a serious mental disturbance. Not as human being with a serious problem who made a mistake. I do hope Canada is more humane.

 

[Mai Harinder Kaur]

Mai ji

Thanks for finishing my thoughts. When you say it, most will accept it more readily than they would if i say it.


Apprehended as he was, he will be viewed first as a felon, and then as a felon with a serious mental disturbance. Not as human being with a serious problem who made a mistake. I do hope Canada is more humane.

The truth is the truth, no matter who says it.

Didn't you know, Canadians are "nice"? It seems, however, many Canadians are fed up with Sikhs. (That is a topic to take up some time. Why, and is there any justification. That belongs in another thread, though.) I hope Canada's disenchantment with its Sikh population doesn't harm this poor soul who, as you say, needs compassion and help, not a jail cell.