Police detained a man well known to them after finding a sawed-off shotgun in his backpack, while he loitered in the parking lot by the Harewood 7-Eleven store this week. (Google Maps)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

modified weapon

Sawed-off shotgun seized after Nanaimo RCMP spot well-known offender

Apr 24, 2024 | 3:49 PM

NANAIMO — A loaded and ready-to-fire sawed-off shotgun was confiscated by local Mounties on routine patrol in Harewood.

Members of the Nanaimo RCMP Bike Patrol unit spotted a man well known to them loitering in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven at the corner of Fifth St. and Bruce Ave., around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said the officers knew the man, 29-year-old Roddy Weidman, was prohibited from carrying break-in tools of any kind and initiated a search of his backpack.

“A check of his person found a loaded, modified shotgun in his backpack. Along with that, two axes and a bunch of knives. He was taken into custody.”

Weidman appeared in court on Tuesday and remains in police custody ahead of a second appearance on Tuesday, April 30.

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He faces three weapons-related charges including possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

His criminal record dates back around five years and includes past charges of theft, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and breaches of probation orders.

O’Brien said police are seeing more instances of people carrying weapons.

“When people think our officers are just doing ‘routine patrols’, there’s nothing routine about them. Many of these people involved in the criminal element are packing knives, they’ve got bear spray, weapons that look like pistols and in this particular case they had a loaded shotgun.”

A situation along Cosgrove Cres. in mid-April ended up involving a pellet gun, but still drew a considerable police response on a reported weapons call.

O’Brien added Bike Patrol officers are continually building rapport and contacts in the community, in a bid to be able to act in these types of situations.

“They start in the downtown core every morning, then they stretch out and go to the areas where people congregate. To be effective you have to know who people are, establishing relationships with them as well, knowing them on a first-name basis. In this particular case, it paid off.”

At the time of his arrest, Weidman was in the parking lot with two other individuals, who were not detained or charged by police.

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