KELOWNA – A citizen of Saudi Arabia, who is staying in Kelowna, remained behind bars Monday after being forcibly arrested Sunday morning in an incident captured on video by Global Okanagan News.
RCMP were called to Sunset Drive in the downtown area by numerous people reporting a man bleeding profusely from his head and acting violently.
A witness says the suspect was chasing after the first police officer to attend.
“The cop was backing away with his gun,” says Jackson Stoski. “I thought the guy was going to get shot but he didn’t. The cop pulled out pepper spray and got him and then he was still fighting that cop and another two rolled up.”
The incident seems to have started in a fifth-floor condominium unit where large blood stains were on the door, in an elevator and on hallway floors.
It appears the man then went to a ground floor unit at the building next door and smashed through the front window to gain entry.
“A lot of people are shaken up,” says RCMP Sgt. Brad Swecera. “It’s Sunday morning and a large male, bleeding from the head, smashes through your window. It causes you, I’m sure, a lot of angst and anxiety. So they’re pretty shaken up.”
It took several Mounties several minutes of strong struggle, and the use of a Taser, to control the large and powerful man.
As police tried to put him on a stretcher he spit on two ambulance attendants.
Stoski says the suspect is fortunate the first RCMP officer didn’t use his handgun.
“He could have shot him and rightfully so, like he was chasing him down.”
Another witness agrees.
“The cop was pointing the gun at the guy and the guy just started chasing after the cop. No shots were fired which is good,” says David Minaei.
Abdulaziz Saud Alrawdhan has been charged with seven offenses including assault, break and enter and mischief.
He was ordered held in custody pending another court appearance Tuesday.
Comments