RCMP say man with BB gun near Ashwell and Kipp was detained, later released

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack RCMP say a man who was carrying what appeared to be a rifle not far from Skwah First Nation Sunday afternoon was taken into custody and later released.

According to a statement from RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, media relations spokesperson for the Chilliwack detachment, Mounties received a report on Sunday afternoon, May 7 of a man walking in the area of Ashwell Road and Kipp Avenue, just a few blocks southeast of the entrance to Skwah First Nation, carrying what appeared to be a rifle.

Police attended and set up a containment, Sgt. Vrolyk said. The man was located and taken into police custody. A long-barreled BB or pellet gun, which resembled a rifle, was seized by police. Police spoke to the male suspect about the dangers of his actions and he was later released without charge.

“This incident serves as a reminder that any object that closely resembles a firearm is likely to cause safety concerns and generate reports to the police,” Sgt. Vrolyk said. “Pellet guns and BB guns often have the appearance of genuine firearms, making it difficult for both the public and responding officers to distinguish them from real ones. When a passerby observes someone in possession of what appears to be a long barrelled gun walking in a residential or urban area, it creates a public safety concern. This creates safety risks to the person in possession of the imitation firearm, bystanders and responding police officers who will deal with any reported firearm as authentic until they can safely determine that it is not.”