In the early afternoon of March 18, Mission RCMP and CFSEU-BC uniformed officers responded to a report of a male, who had produced a handgun near the 8400 block of Cedar Street in Mission
The male initially fled on foot from police and entered a nearby residence.
After only a few minutes, the male exited the residence under his own recognizance and surrendered himself to police.
The suspect was taken into police custody without incident. The male, who was known to police, divulged that he had left an imitation airsoft pistol in the house.
The home that the suspect entered was later determined to be a frequently-visited residence that he had access to. After searching the home, police located the imitation pistol.
Although airsoft guns are not illegal, Const James Mason, media relations officer for the Mission RCMP said altering or modifying an airsoft gun to replicate or imitate a firearm is illegal. He added “it’s a good idea to treat all airsoft guns with the same reasonable safety precautions as a real firearm. Possessing an airsoft gun in a public area possess a legitimate safety concern to both the public and the police.”
The suspect was later released from police custody while the file is still under investigation; with charges against the man pending the outcome of the investigation.