Masset, a small village on Haida Gwaii, is grappling with fear and anger following a violent incident involving a local man. On Thursday, the man allegedly attacked two residents with an axe, escalating years of reported harassment and threats against community members. Darin Swanson and his son, Jordan Holt, intervened during the attack, managing to subdue the assailant until police arrived.

The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed due to the absence of formal charges, has a criminal history that includes multiple offenses dating back to 2009. These offenses range from assault to making threats and breaching probation orders. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have stated that they are familiar with the individual and have recommended several charges to Crown counsel.

Swanson, a member of the Haida Gwaii hereditary chiefs council, expressed the community's distress, saying, "He’s just terrorized the whole community. Everybody’s always on edge with this guy around."

The incident unfolded when Holt was driving to the beach and was approached by the suspect, who began yelling at him to pull over. Holt stopped, believing the man needed help. Instead, the suspect attacked him with a splitting maul, a heavy axe used for splitting wood. Holt sustained a minor injury to his hip and narrowly avoided further harm when the axe struck his truck's window.

After the attack, Holt called the police and informed his father. They drove to the suspect's residence, intending to contain him until law enforcement arrived. Swanson recounted the moment the suspect charged at them with the axe again, narrowly missing his son. "It should be attempted murder. If you’d seen how that axe hit that truck … if he connected, that was it," Swanson said.

The two men managed to tackle the suspect to the ground and held him until police took him into custody. Even while being arrested, the suspect allegedly threatened Swanson and his family, stating, "I’m going to kill you and your family. I’m gonna be out tomorrow."

Following the incident, the RCMP reported that the suspect required medical treatment but was released under strict conditions. Swanson expressed concern for his family's safety, stating, "(Jordan), he’s got a shotgun ready to go. That night, I went to bed with a pipe, a knife and bear spray by my bed."

Frustration is mounting in the community over the perceived lack of action from law enforcement. Swanson noted that other victims of the suspect had called the police multiple times in recent weeks, only to feel dismissed. "They gaslight you. They make it your problem," he said, criticizing the police response to the situation.

Swanson fears that without decisive action, the situation could escalate further. "It’s gone to a whole new level. It’s going to be him, or whoever," he warned. "I don’t know if (police are) scared of this guy or they’re just tired of him. That will be the conclusion of it. It’s him or it’s us. That’s what it’s going to come down to, and I’m going to protect my family."