Boa constrictor, weapons seized from Oppenheimer park by Vancouver police

Police have seized an eight-foot boa constrictor and multiple weapons after responding to a 911 call about a fight at the Oppenheimer park encampment in Vancouver.

Const. Tania Visintin says officers found the snake in a tent at Oppenheimer Park after a report about a man using a machete in the fight.

Visintin says every call in policing is different, but officers will never forget this one.

She says by the time police arrived the suspects involved in the fight had dispersed, but witnesses directed officers to a tent.

Visintin says it contained multiple weapons in plain sight, including a loaded shotgun, a crossbow, knives, three machetes, two axes, a baton, two wooden clubs with nails and a baseball bat.

"It was shocking for officers to find the snake, but the number of weapons they discovered is also very concerning," said Visintin in a written statement.

One suspect is in custody in connection with the fight and staff from the city's animal services department have taken possession of the snake.