Olds RCMP joined a score of other police officers last week to apprehend a Carstairs man allegedly seen by local citizens driving impaired and carrying a long barrelled shotgun.
The five-hour drama began when a 29-year-old man was seen leaving a Carstairs residence with a firearm shortly after 5 p.m. on May 30.
Didsbury RCMP Sgt. Jeff Jacobson said RCMP was called but initial patrols did not locate the suspect. However, two concerned citizens called in reports shortly after 7 p.m. to say a suspicious vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle was parked along Twp. Rd. 304, east of Highway 2A.
The citizens further reported seeing a male lying outside the vehicle with a long barrelled firearm beside him.
Jacobson said Didsbury RCMP, with the assistance of Olds RCMP members, immediately attended and secured the scene.
The male suspect was seen exiting and then entering his vehicle but would not cooperate with police directions to surrender himself.
RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) members from Calgary and Edmonton were then deployed.
Jacobson said Highway 2A traffic was diverted and one nearby residence was evacuated as a precaution.
Just before 10 p.m. the male attempted to flee the area on foot. However, he was successfully apprehended by ERT members with the assistance of the RCMP Police Dog Service.
The man suffered minor injuries after being bitten by a police dog. He was later treated at an area hospital.
Jacobson said an unloaded rifle was located in the suspect's vehicle. The man is facing firearms charges related to unsafe use and storage of a firearm. He is now undergoing a mental health assessment.
“Alcohol and firearms are a dangerous mix. Police are pleased that this situation resolved without further escalation and at the end of the day everyone was safe,” said Jacobson, who declined to release further details on the incident.
“There are still lots of questions that are still left in our investigation,” he said.
