A St. Albert teen will face nine charges in youth court next week after he was caught with a BB gun outside a local business.
Around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, RCMP responded to an altercation outside a St. Albert business where it was reported that one of the persons involved had a handgun.
Officers confiscated a CO2 powered BB gun from a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The teen has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, two counts of uttering threats and one count of obstructing a police officer.
To date this year, St. Albert RCMP has responded to 10 verified complaints involving air/gas powered replica firearms in both public spaces and on private property. Officers responded to these as legitimate firearms complaints as the witnesses believed the air/gas guns were real firearms.
Police would like to remind residents to use caution when transporting air/gas powered replica firearms in vehicles and in public and to respect these weapons as if they were real firearms. Residents who possess these items, or the parents of children who do, should be aware of the perceptions of others who may not recognize them as BB/pellet or airsoft guns.
Discharging a BB/air gun within city limits is prohibited and people can face up to a $50 fine.
The teen will face his charges in St. Albert Provincial Youth Court on Aug. 6.
