A local man has been charged with possession of a weapon after police arrested him with a replica pellet gun and CO2 pistol outside a St. Albert home last week.
On Oct. 14 around 2:45 a.m., St. Albert RCMP responded to a call of a man wielding a rifle in the front yard of a resident's home. Under the impression the weapons were real, RCMP officers arrested the man and seized an AR15 replica pellet gun and a CO2 pistol. Both weapons appeared to be real guns and the AR15 replica had been painted completely black to look real.
“It was a call of a male with a rifle crouched behind a tree,” said Cst. Eric Rajah Tuesday. Rajah was one of the officers who responded to the call.
“It’s a rifle call. You have to treat that stuff as real. Rifle versus pistol, you’re outgunned.” When they arrived, it was dark and the suspect was wearing a mask and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Rajah said they arrested the suspect after a “high-risk takedown.” They found the suspect also had a replica pistol tucked behind his back. The pistol was supposed to have the mandatory blaze orange tip so police know it’s a toy, but Rajah said the pistol had been completely painted black, with no orange showing.
Andrew Cody Cullihall, 25, of St. Albert has been charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
This is the eleventh time in 2013 that St. Albert RCMP officers have responded to complaints of suspects with firearms when in actuality they have had air/gas powered replicas. Seven of these complaints originated because the suspects had these weapons in public areas of the city.
RCMP respond to weapons calls as high priority and treat each call as a dangerous situation. Suspects will be arrested at gunpoint as the officers protect the public and themselves.
“It’s very scary for officers but it’s scary for those people too,” said Rajah, referring to someone holding a replica gun. “It was 2:45 in the morning. We were 15 feet away. You can’t tell.”
The RCMP reminds residents to use caution about having air/gas powered replica firearms in vehicles and in public. Anyone who possesses replica firearms needs to be aware of the perceptions of others towards these weapons, as they may not be recognized as BB guns, pellet guns or airsoft rifles.
Discharging a BB/air gun within city limits is prohibited and people can face up to a $50 fine.
Cullihall will be appearing in St. Albert Provincial Court on Nov. 25.
