Saanich police issue reminder after man arrested for carrying replica handgun

Saanich police are reminding residents to keep their replica handguns at home after a man was arrested for carrying what was believed to be a firearm last week.

Saanich police say that on April 29, officers were called to the intersection of McKenzie Avenue and Burnside Road for a report of an intoxicated man carrying a gun.

Officers arrived at the scene and spotted what looked like the handle of a pistol sticking out of the man’s waistband.

Police briefly spoke with the man and arrested him without incident.

“It was only after his arrest that officers had a chance to safely inspect the weapon which was determined to be a replica,” said Saanich police in a release Wednesday.

The incident has prompted police to issue a reminder, noting that anything that looks like a real gun poses a risk to the public, police officers and the people carrying the replica firearms since officers cannot confirm if it is a real gun or not from a distance.

“Officers are trained to treat all firearms as real and may not learn it is a replica until hours after the call is concluded,” said Saanich police.

“If you own a replica firearm, please leave it at home.”

The man who was arrested on April 29 was later released until his next court date, with a condition not to possess any weapons.

RELATED: ‘Ongoing trend’: VicPD seizes six imitation firearms in two days

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