Penticton police respond to calls about men wielding weapons

PENTICTON – Two incidents involving open displays of possible weapons had police rushing to the scene last week.

Police responded to reports of a man wandering the 900-block of Killarney Avenue with a gun at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says.

Police arrived to find a mentally challenged man pointing a toy gun at various things, saying 'bang, bang'. The man, in his mid-50s, responded to police commands and was taken to a Forestbrook Drive residence where he normally resides in the care of relatives.

On Sunday evening, June 5, police responded to calls of a man carrying a machete and walking along Lakeshore Drive. Police stopped the man, who said he had just purchased the item from a pawn shop and was taking it home.

No charges were laid, and no laws broken in the incident, but Wrigglesworth advises residents to use discretion when innocently transporting items which could be considered weapons. He also points out toy weapons are often very difficult for the average citizen to discern from the real thing.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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