A man involved in a police shooting in January was arrested by RCMP Thursday morning after police received a report there was an armed man in a residence.
At approximately 6:15 a.m. Chilliwack RCMP responded to the report of a man with a gun inside a residence in the 44000-block of Elsie Place, very close to Unsworth elementary school.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail said that front-line officers immediately cordoned off the residence and police quickly arrested a suspect, but no gun was found.
“The immediate response of front-line officers is crucial to the arrest and safety of everyone involved,” Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail said via email. “Evidence gathered to this point of the investigation does not indicate a firearm was involved.”
A 40-year-old man from Chilliwack remains in custody pending a court appearance on unrelated matters.
The Chilliwack Progress has learned that man is David Bardwell and that unrelated matter is that he is facing numerous charges for an alleged domestic assault on Jan. 12. Charges he faces include assault by choking, assault causing bodily harm, and two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
READ MORE: Closure of Chilliwack childcare centre linked to RCMP shooting of domestic assault suspect
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Bardwell is now back in custody and will likely face at least a breach charge in connection with the April 1 arrest.
In a statement regarding the sudden closure of the Chilliwack Child Growth Society recently, Bardwell’s wife issued a statement blaming the closure, at least in part, on the deteriorating mental health of her husband.
“I have unfortunately come to a point where the personal and professional damage caused by my ex-husband could possibly have reached the unrepairable point,” she wrote.
After the alleged domestic assault on Jan. 12, David Bardwell was located in a vehicle in the Lickman Road parking lot on the Vedder River. When approached, Mounties report he had a weapon and he was shot by police.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) now has conduct of that investigation. The IIO is the civilian-led agency responsible for investigations into incidents of death or serious harm that may have been the result of a police officer.
RCMP remind everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or, should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
READ MORE: IIO investigating after man shot by police near Vedder River in Chilliwack
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