Multiple charges laid in Monday’s weapons incident

Medicine Hat Police Service’s Major Crime Section has charged 54-year-old Dale Melbourn with multiple weapons-related offences following a high-risk incident that took place Monday in an isolated area near Smelter Avenue and Factory Street.

An MHPS release states that around 9:30 a.m. on Monday, members received a report of a male in distress who was a possible danger to himself and others. At around noon, authorities located the male inside a structure and contained the isolated area.

Following several unsuccessful attempts to communicate, the

MHPS tactical team and crisis negotiators were called to the scene. The male then exited the structure at approximately 1:15 p.m. and pointed a long barrel weapon at officers — who used the tactical team’s armoured rescue vehicle for protection and subdued the male with a single-shot projectile launcher, then took him safely into police custody.

The male was also found to be in possession of a replica handgun and large hunting knife during the arrest.

Following an investigation, Melbourn has been charged with two counts of possession of a weapon, two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of pointing a firearm and breach of previous release conditions. Melbourn was held in custody and scheduled to appear in court Thursday.