Grande Prairie RCMP have charged a 41-year-old male with several firearm offences after a disturbance at a local school.

On June 8, 2021, at approximately 2:41 p.m. Grande Prairie RCMP responded to a complaint of a subject having caused a disturbance at a school in the area of 108 Avenue and 104 Street. RCMP officers arrived and located a male suspect outside the school near a vehicle. After subsequent investigation the male was arrested and during a search of the vehicle RCMP seized a loaded handgun, a machete, an axe, and two handgun magazines with ammunition. 

Further investigation led Grande Prairie RCMP to conduct a search warrant later that night at a residence in the County of Grande Prairie. During the search RCMP seized 28 firearms, including both handguns and long guns, approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and multiple firearm magazines.

Robert Howarth, a 41-year-old male from Grande Prairie, Alta. was charged with the following:

·         Possession of weapon dangerous to public

·         Careless use of a firearm x 5

·         Carrying Concealed weapon

·         Unauthorized possession of firearm

·         Unauthorized possession of firearm in a vehicle

·         Possession of restricted firearm with ammunition

·         Unlawful discharge of a firearm

Following a judicial hearing Howarth was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on June 14, 2021.