High Prairie RCMP have responded to multiple incidents that were unrelated over the past month involving replica firearms.
"We are thankful none of these incidents resulted in injury to members of the public or police," says Staff Sergeant Warren Wright, Detachment Commander of the High Prairie RCMP. "Replica firearms should not be brought into public as they are not toys and these incidents heighten public safety concerns for all when police respond.”
This concerning trend has led to a need to bring this to the attention of the public to provide education in hopes of avoiding possible serious outcomes in the future.
On April 16, 2020, at 7:49 p.m., High Prairie RCMP responded to a number of 911 calls of a male walking in High Prairie with what was believed to be a sawed off shotgun in the area of 53 Ave and 52 Street while pointing at people, vehicles and businesses. Police responded and located the male in possession of what was believed to be a shotgun. He was arrested without incident and taken into police custody. It was later determined that the weapon was a replica Remington shotgun air pistol.
The man, Joshua Maurice Dumont, 28, of no fixed address, is being charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, three counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of criminal harassment and disturbing the peace.
Following a judicial hearing, Dumont was remanded into custody and his next scheduled court appearance is June 15, 2020, in High Prairie Provincial Court.
On May 9, 2020, at 12:42 a.m., High Prairie RCMP received a 911 call of a male carrying what was believed to be a handgun and acting unusual in the area of 52 Ave and 48 Street. Police located the male and arrested him without incident. A search of the suspect and the area did not yield any handgun or replica handgun.
Vincent Edward Willier, 30, of Gift Lake Metis Settlement is being charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Following a judicial hearing, Willier was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in High Prairie Provincial Court on June 1, 2020.
On May 19, 2020, at 2:35 p.m., High Prairie RCMP received a call that a female had allegedly displayed a handgun to a contracted employee of a school in the area of 46 Street and 53 Ave in High Prairie, before leaving the area.
High Prairie RCMP conducted a search of nearby businesses where they located the female. She was arrested and taken into police custody. It was later determined the firearm was a replica of a Smith & Wesson handgun.
As a result of this incident, Latoya Catherine Giroux, 19, of High Prairie is charged with disturbing the peace and is scheduled to attend High Prairie Provincial Court on Sept. 28, 2020.
These matters are taken very seriously and these replicas are treated as a firearm until proven otherwise. This concerning trend has led to a need to bring this to the attention of the public to provide education.
Fri, May 3, 6:30 PM
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