RCMP arrest two after firearms stolen in Three Brooks

HEDGEVILLE, N.S. - RCMP have charged two men with firearms offenses after 10 firearms and a crossbow were stolen from a home in Three Brooks.

In a March 7 release, Pictou County District RCMP said on March 3 at around 10:35 a.m. officers responded to a breakin at a home on Three Brooks Road. Police learned that 10 firearms were stolen from the home, including a revolver, a pistol, shotguns, a rifle and a crossbow.

A black sedan was identified as being involved in the break-in.

At around 12:55 p.m. on March 4, a checkpoint was setup on Highway 6 near Pictou when a black sedan approached the checkpoint and turned around.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle but it picked up speed and fled. While fleeing, the occupants of the vehicle threw a backpack out the window, when police found the backpack they noted the stolen revolver was inside. At around 1:15 p.m. officers located the black sedan at a home on Hedgeville Road in Hedgeville.

A man was seen walking from the sedan towards a home and was arrested without incident. Hedgeville Road was then closed off as police secured the area around the home before negotiations with the people still in the home began.

After roughly two hours of negotiation, three people exited the home and were arrested without incident.

Police then searched the home with the assistance of the RCMP Emergency Response Team and RCMP Police Dog Services where they located and seized four of the stolen firearms, two crossbows and ammunition.

Two of the people who were arrested at the home were released and Brandon Joseph Ward, 26 of Moncton and Patrick Owen MacDonald, 32 of River John were charged with numerous firearms offences.

Ward has been charged with 35 different offenses and MacDonald has been charged with 34, the pair are being held in custody and were scheduled to appear in Pictou provincial court on March 7.