By Dominic Abassi

VIDEO: Fake gun prompts real ‘high-risk takedown’ by Nanaimo RCMP

Jan 19, 2018 | 3:48 PM

NANAIMO — RCMP in Nanaimo were forced to take down a teen at gunpoint after a report of someone driving around with what was believed to be a handgun.

A video submitted to NanaimoNewsNOW showed at least five police vehicles surrounding a car. Officers could be seen with guns drawn pointed at the car as another Mountie handcuffed a person and escorted them away.

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said an “alert motorist” called 911 just before 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 and reported seeing someone in a car on the Island Highway holding a handgun. He said the car was found and followed to McDonald Cres., off Townsite Rd.

“We executed what’s called a high-risk takedown. Four individuals were removed from the car at gunpoint because of the unknown threat. As a result of a search of the vehicle we did find a replica pellet gun which is very similar to any handgun on the street.”

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O’Brien said a 17-year-old boy was arrested after it was discovered he was wanted on several warrants for failing to appear in court. He was also missing from his group home. The three other people in the car were released.

The teen will face a charge of possession of a replica firearm in a motor vehicle, something O’Brien described as “really significant.”

O’Brien noted police have to treat all firearms calls the same, even though the gun in this case turned out to be fake.

“It’s extremely volatile. We have no idea what we’re going into. We don’t know if the people in the car have committed a bank robbery or if they have a hostage in the car. Because it’s an unknown threat, we use as much caution as possible to remove the individuals from the car and do a search.”

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi