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Williams Lake RCMP arrest two people, seize firearms

A man, 30, and woman, 26, were released to appear in court in December
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Williams Lake RCMP are on scene at the corner of Pigeon Avenue and Twelfth Avenue as a major police investigation is underway Thursday morning (July 28). (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

For the third time in two months, the North District RCMP emergency response team (ERT) assisted Williams Lake police in making arrests in a residential neighbourhood last week.

On Thursday, July 28, a man, 30, and woman, 26, were arrested and two firearms were seized in the 1200 block of Pigeon Avenue shortly after 8 a.m.

The incident began to unfold at 2:36 a.m. when police were called to a report of a shooting on Mackenzie Avenue. Their investigation led police to the home in the 1200 block of Pigeon Avenue.

After arresting the pair the police were concerned there was a third person inside the home and the ERT was called in.

Police established a perimeter, asked the public to stay away, and began negotiating over a loudspeaker to encourage the possible suspect to exit the home.

The negotiator could be heard saying the occupants were “under arrest for discharging a firearm with intent and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Come on out of the house with your hands up. Do it now.”

Shortly after 11 a.m. the ERT arrived. The team did not bring its large armoured rescue vehicle, but officers were heavily armed.

Members of the team stationed themselves outside the home, while others searched the property.

A dog handler arrived half an our later to assist.

By 2 p.m. the ERT departed and within an hour police had cleared the scene and told the public it was safe to return to the area.

Williams Lake Acting Insp. Darren Dodge said Tuesday the man and woman who were arrested were later released on a undertaking to appear in court in December.

“The investigation is ongoing,” he said, noting no charges have been approved at this time.

In June the ERT aided local RCMP in a standoff that culminated in the arrest of three armed robbery suspects in the 300 block of Ninth Avenue.

A second call for assistance on July 10 is now under independent investigation following the death of a man who is believed to have died by suicide.

In other recent police news, Jordell Anthony Sellars, the man charged in the shooting at the Williams Lake Stampede on Sunday July 3, had a court appearance on July 25. He remains in custody with his next court appearance set for Aug. 22, 2022 to fix a date for a bail hearing.

Read More: Tense moments as heavily armed RCMP remove 3 armed robbery suspects in Williams Lake

Read More: One man found dead in Williams Lake home with weapon, IIO BC investigating



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A member of the North District RCMP Emergency Response Team arrives in the 1200 block of Pigeon Avenue Thursday, July 28. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
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Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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