A 35-year-old man, who unsuccessfully fled from Saanich and Regional Crime Unit officers, now faces multiple drug trafficking and weapons-related charges.

At the request of the RCU, Saanich police pulled over a suspect vehicle Wednesday afternoon in the 4000-block of Glanford Ave. A male passenger, the target of an RCU investigation, fled on foot.

Officers set up a containment in the area and, with the assistance of two canine officers, found the suspect hiding in a tree in the 4100-block of Hawkes Ave.

The man and the driver, a 36-year-old female who is also known to police, were held in custody while a search warrant was executed on the man's home in the 1600-block of Hawthorne St.

Inside, police recovered a quantity of crystal meth, along with a firearm and machete. Also discovered was a large number of suspect pieces of stolen property, including electronics, bicycles and power tools.

The 35-year old man was charges with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. Police are also expected stolen property charges will be laid.

He was released from custody and will appear in court on Sept. 19.

kslavin@saanichnews.com