Man with blowgun charged on city path

Calgary police say charges have been laid after a man was spotted pointing what looked like a rifle underneath a Deerfoot Trail overpass. Police say they received a call about a man under the 34 Ave. S.E. overpass pointing what appeared to be a long gun. Police deployed a helicopter to help monitor the suspect, who they say loaded the weapon into a rifle case and began walking up a path east of Deerfoot Trail, where he was intercepted by officers. Police say the weapon was a three-foot long blowgun, and that the suspect appeared to be doing target practice. The blowgun had a copper barrel, wooden handle and plastic stalk covered in black tape. Wooden darts and cans with two cm holes in them were located. Ryan Herman Thiel, 26, of Calgary has been charged with one count of possession of a weapon or imitation for a dangerous purpose. Calgary police called the incident a “high-risk call” with a peaceful resolution.