UPDATE: Police say vineyard cannon may be behind report of gunshot in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA – The closure of a busy road in West Kelowna and the arrest of a man may have been caused by an common vineyard cannon this morning.

More than half a dozen police cars responded at around 11 a.m., Sept. 1 for a report of a gunshot.

Boucherie Road was closed between Montigny Road and Mission Hill Road while officers checked out a residence in the area. The RCMP's fixed wing aircraft circled overhead.

“As a result of police attendance to the home, a 46-year-old West Kelowna man was taken into custody without incident," Const. Jesse O’Donaghey says in a media release. "The man was later released unconditionally and without charge."

RCMP aren't explaining why he was released and not charged.

Police continue to investigate the origin of the sound that was reported by a neighbour, but O’Donaghey says it could be a tool used by many orchards and vineyards this time of year.

“Investigators are mindful of the common use of air cannons in area orchards and vineyards used to scare birds and have not yet ruled this out as being a possible explanation.”

— This story was updated at 10:53 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 to say RCMP had made an arrest.

— This story was updated at 2:42 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 to add more information from the RCMP.

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