North Bay Police arrested a 19-year-old North Bay man late last night after receiving a report via a 911 call of the man waving what appeared to be a handgun.
A passing police officer made the arrest around 11:00pm on Monday after the accused had engaged in a dispute with another man in the parking lot of a business on Lakeshore Drive. Police say the accused displayed what was reported to be a black handgun and began waving it around. A search subsequent to the arrest revealed a black pellet gun that resembles a handgun stashed in the man’s waistband.
The accused has been charged with one count of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public and one count of carrying a concealed weapon and has been held for a bail hearing.
Police say imitation firearms have been known to be used in criminal offences, most often to generate fear and to intimidate victims. These imitation firearms and of high quality are very similar to authentic firearms, which result in people believing they are real. In the event an imitation firearm is used in the commission of an offence, the individual will still be charged criminally, as is the case in this incident.
