A camper being arrested at Woodwynn Farms in Central Saanich (Photo: Chrissy Brett)
One day after homeless campers occupied an area at Woodwynn Farms in Central Saanich, some have been arrested by police.
Officers say they spoke to campers Saturday morning and gave the group an opportunity to leave the property voluntarily, Central Saanich police then say the campers decided to barricade the entrance to the property.
At 3 p.m. officers from the Central Saanich Police Department, along with the Greater Victoria Crowd Managment Unit and the RCMP arrested 10 individuals for criminal offenses of mischief.
They are being released on conditions including not to return to the property.
Police say the group drove vehicles onto the property and began establishing an encampment on Friday just after 10 p.m. on 779 West Saanich Road. It is owned and managed by the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation.
Central Saanich police say they met with the organizer and several members of the group who identified themselves as the Namegans Nation or Camp Namegans. Police also spoke with representatives from BC Housing who instructed them to remove the individuals.
They say this all occurred after repeated attempts to have the group voluntarily leave the property.
Chrissy Brett, the camp leader, posted a live video to social media of the incident.
Before campers arrived at the property, they briefly stopped at Songhees Park in Vic West. They had been removed from Cattle Point in Oak Bay.
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