A 32-year-old Chemainus man has been arrested by North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP officers after allegedly pulling a weapon on an officer at the scene of a suspicious fire Wednesday night.
The man had been staying as a guest at the Duncan Motel, located at 2552 Alexander St., when a fire broke out at approximately 7 p.m.
Police told the Chronicle the man is a resident of Lyackson First Nation and returned to the motel a couple hours after the fire was extinguished.
He was confronted by an RCMP officer who was conducting scene security.
Police allege the man pulled a weapon and threatened to injure the officer before a foot chase ensued.
He was later brought into police custody without further violence and police were able to recover a weapon - details of which are not being released by police as the matter is before the court.
Eli Stuart Harris Elliot is charged with assault police officer with intent to resist arrest, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, obstruct police officer, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose and fail to comply with probation order.
“Mr. Elliot and the officer were not injured during the arrest, which could have had a very different and tragic outcome,” said Cpl. Krista Hobday.
Elliot was scheduled to appear in Duncan provincial court on Friday morning.
Police continue to investigate the fire, which was isolated to a single unit and extinguished quickly.
It’s unclear if the the room where the fire occurred was booked by Elliot.
If anyone has information on this or any other crime, they are encouraged to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 or call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).