RCMP have released a 32-year-old Red Deer County man without charge after finding him sitting in a truck in uptowne Olds with a long-gun on Oct. 22.
RCMP have released a 32-year-old Red Deer County man without charge after finding him sitting in a truck in uptowne Olds with a long-gun on Oct. 22.
Following investigation, police concluded the man — a hunting enthusiast — was packaging a 303 rifle for shipping. He has a current Possession Acquisition License and no criminal record, according to a statement from RCMP.
His name is not being released.
In the wake of Wednesday's shootings in Ottawa, Olds RCMP took extra precautions when a citizen called them reporting a man appearing to load a rifle in his truck, parked on 51 Avenue across from the Canada Post office.
The RCMP press release stated the man knew about the shootings in Ottawa but saw no harm in packaging the gun at that time and place.
At about 1:40 p.m., two officers armed with shotguns approached a grey GMC Sierra pickup truck.
They seized what appeared to be a long-barreled gun wrapped in plastic and arrested the man, dressed in jeans, sneakers and a short-sleeved checkered shirt, without incident.
Police also removed ammunition from the truck. All items were later returned.
Cpl. Shawn Morgan of the RCMP detachment in Olds said that in light of the shootings in Ottawa and the fact that the Canada Post office is a federal building, RCMP had reason to take extra precautions, adding that any time a firearm is involved, police treat the incident seriously.
Dina Middlebrook, an associate insurance advisor at the Co-operators, said she was returning from lunch when she saw the police vehicles parked in front of her office.
The man had already been taken into custody by that point, she said.
More than an hour after leaving, Middlebrook said she saw police return and release the man.
One other employee from a business on 51 Avenue reported seeing the same.
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