On Tuesday afternoon, a 37-year-old Parksville man went to extreme lengths to get a free cup of joe.
Upon entering a McDonald’s Restaurant in Parksville, the man demanded a free coffee.
When staff denied his request, he pulled up his shirt, clearly revealing a handgun in the waistband of his pants.
The staff, feeling threatened, gave the man a coffee. He then left and employees contacted the RCMP.
One McDonald’s employee provided an excellent description (and later video evidence). Police located the suspect within minutes.
After the man’s arrest, police seized a very realistic-looking fake handgun and a small quantity of illicit drugs.
The suspect has no fixed address and is well known to police.
A judge released him on a recognizance and he now faces charges of Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose and Breach of Probation.
