A man was arrested early this morning for carrying and pointing an airsoft gun in public.
On Monday, September 26, 2022, at 6:10 a.m. it was reported that a man was walking on the field of Cedar Hill Middle School with a firearm. As police were responding, the man was said to have pointed the firearm at one person and then walked toward a business complex and into a covered parkade at the corner of Cedar Hill Road and Mckenzie Avenue.
Due to the concern for public safety, police closed down the immediate area to traffic and also evacuated persons inside the complex.
Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspect, a 19-year-old man, inside the parkade. He had with him an airsoft gun that looked identical to a real semi-automatic rifle. He is facing one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and remains in police custody. He is known to police.
“While we are still working on why this man was walking around with a weapon in public, we have no information to suggest he was targeting any person or location,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades. “Imitation firearms pose a significant risk to the public, as police treat them as real until proven otherwise. Imitation, airsoft, paintball or similar weapons should never be carried or used in public spaces.”
File 22-18516
Cst. Markus Anastasiades
Public Information & Communications Officer
media@saanichpolice.ca
