Police in Nanaimo responded to two separate calls within a span of two hours earlier this week, reporting individuals carrying handguns on the same street..
RCMP officers say the incidents occurred on Cavan Street at 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, July 24th.
Regarding the first situation, officers responded after they received a tip that there was a large fight in the area — one of the fighters was reported to have a handgun.
Nanaimo RCMP apprehended and arrested the two people who were fighting and found a lifelike airsoft pistol in a grocery bag near them. Police say they couldn’t determine ownership of the weapon.
Officers also couldn’t determine if the airsoft pistol had been pointed at anyone or used in a threatening manner.
A 19-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested for assault causing bodily harm. After several hours, he was released — once officers determined he was sober.
In the second incident, police say they received a call that someone had a handgun visible in their car on the same street. The car had several people in it at the time of the report.
Police responded and removed those who were in the car.
The weapon was found to be a flare gun, which was modified to fire .22 calibre bullets, according to Nanaimo RCMP.
They arrested 29-year-old Ron Arndt because the weapon belonged to him.
Arndt has been charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, as well as other firearm related charges.
Following processing, he was remanded to the Nanaimo Provincial Court on Wednesday, July 26th. Arndt appeared before a judge and was again remanded — this time until Monday, July 31st.
“Both of these incidents were considered high risk as firearms were involved and required numerous officers to attend to and deal with safely,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“The citizens of Nanaimo should take comfort in knowing that the RCMP officers who serve this city are highly trained and are capable and ready to deal with these kinds of situations.”
Police say the two weapons will be destroyed.
