Vernon man fined for brandishing replica gun in Polson Park

VERNON – A 23-year-old Vernon man has been fined $500 after being spotted in Polson Park with what appeared to be a handgun.

According to a Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP press release the incident took place shortly before 7 p.m. yesterday, July 31, in Polson Park.

Police received a report of a male brandishing what appeared to be a handgun in the park. Upon arriving at the park police located the individual who admitted to being in possession of replica weapons.

The man had MP5 and M4 Carbine airsoft guns on him but denied brandishing the weapons in any manner.

"It is incredibly important for people to realize that airsoft weapons can look and feel very real, and pose great risk to those who have them in their possession when not in a controlled environment," RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says in the release. "Our officers, from time to time, are confronted with similar situations and respond accordingly based on the information they are presented with. There are many unknown factors and concerns when approaching a person reportedly having a firearm in their possession."

The individual cooperated with police and was issued a $500 fine under the Vernon firearms and weapons bylaw.

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