Vernon RCMP officers defused a potentially dangerous situation Christmas night.
Shortly after 9 p.m., officers responded to a report of an intoxicated man holding up traffic in the area of Highway 6 and Pottery Road.
“The man was walking in and out of traffic on the highway,” said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
“A father and son driving by reported the man had a handgun and that he was pulling the gun in and out of his coat pocket.”
Officers located the suspect in the ditch off of Pottery Road.
The individual, who police say was highly intoxicated, was arrested and searched and a handgun was located in his front jacket pocket.
“The gun, a .357 Magnum revolver, was unloaded,” said Molendyk. “However, a search of him revealed he had bullets in his upper jacket pocket.”
The suspect was also in possession of some crystal meth, crack cocaine in small baggies, and some cash. His cell phone continued to ring while officers dealt with him.
The 16-year old Vernon resident is suspected – of trafficking. He was remanded in custody, and was slated to appear in Vernon Provincial Court Monday to answer to firearms- and drug-related charges.
