Nanaimo men released after ‘gun’ turns out to be lighter
Two Nanaimo men might be reconsidering their choice of cigarette lighter after they were arrested at Piper’s Pub on Hammond Bay Road.
A significant RCMP presence was required and a main roadway temporarily blocked June 12 to deal with the incident, which started when a witness called 911 and reported seeing a man with a black pistol enter the pub.
The pistol turned out to be a cigarette lighter.
The man with the lighter and another male were reported to have left the pub with a case of beer and departed in a vehicle. A witness provided the licence plate number to police.
Minutes later, attending officers located the vehicle travelling west on Hammond Bay Road.
The vehicle was stopped, and at gunpoint, the two males were removed from the vehicle and arrested for pointing a firearm.
Officers then searched the vehicle and located a lighter that resembled a mini blow torch. No weapons were found in the vehicle and a picture of the lighter was taken and shown to the witness, who confirmed that it was what was seen.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the officers explained their actions to both men, who were released from custody with no charges.
According to the RCMP, both men said they understood how the lighter could have been confused with a real gun.
“The officers also stressed to the males that it might be time to consider moving to a more conventional lighter,” said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien.