Guns seized in Merritt not connected to gun robbery in Trail
By Trail Champion
A dramatic smash-and-grab gun robbery at the Trail Canadian Tire early Thursday morning has no relationship to a seizure of guns in Merritt the following day, according to RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
(For full coverage of Trail incident, click here).
Moskaluk indicated that, while 12 guns are still missing after the Trail robbery, none of the six guns recovered the following day in Merritt were connected. He said the various detachments were, of course, in contact to discuss and compare what turned out to be unrelated incidents.
The press release detailing the gun seizure in Merrit is as follows:
The Merritt RCMP have arrested a male and recovered six firearms, following the arrest on Hwy 5 near Merritt. The man was detained at the scene of a collision scene by a witness.
On July 21, at approximately 7:50 a.m., the Merritt RCMP began receiving reports of an erratic driver on Hwy 5 South. Within a short period of time of the initial reports , they were advised that a male driver was being detained at the scene of a collision at the Mine Creek corner on Hwy 5, after a white Toyota Camry, struck a transport truck. A witness had detained the driver when he attempted to run from the scene. Merritt RCMP arrested the man on arrival and on searching his vehicle located a total of 6 firearms.
The 44-year-old man, who is known to police, had two handguns and five long guns in his possession along with ammunition. One of the handguns, a semi-automatic 9mm, was loaded with 15 round magazine.
The man is being held in custody pending a court appearance via justice of the peace later today. The man is facing numerous possible charges regarding the firearms and the driving offences. Hope RCMP also assisted at the scene after being notified of the complaint.
Should anyone have information regarding this matter or having witnessed any of the incidents involved are asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.
