Man arrested after brandishing pellet gun

On November 14, around 1:46pm, the Fort St John RCMP say they received a report of a man showing off a pistol near 100th St and 99th Ave.

While officers were heading to the scene, information was received that the man had entered a business in the strip mall by 100th Street and 98A Ave.

By 1:49pm, the officers arrived on scene and found the man matching the suspect description given to police.

With public safety the priority, the officers conducted a high-risk takedown at gunpoint with the suspect. When the suspect was safely subdued and searched, a metal 1911 type pistol was found, but determined to be a pellet gun.

With some pellet and airsoft guns it is very difficult to differentiate between replica and real as many are created to look like the real deal, said Const. Chad Neustaeter, media relations officer for the Fort St John RCMP. Carrying and displaying any firearm in public raises significant safety concerns from the public and police which creates an unnecessary and potentially dangerous situations especially after the recent shots fired incidents Fort St John has experienced.

The man was identified as Raymond Peterkin, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Peterkin was arrested on his outstanding warrant as well as for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and for breach of release order. Peterkin is on a condition not to possess any weapons.

Peterkin was transported to the detachment and held for court where he was remanded until November 15, but has since been released. He has a future court date of November 20.

Tom Summer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alaska Highway News