Man with pellet gun draws significant police presence on Tuesday

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John RCMP took down a man who was believed to be holding a firearm on Tuesday afternoon, later finding out he was wanted by police and the pistol was a pellet gun.

Constable Chad Neustaeter said on November 14th, at 1:46 p.m., the local RCMP received a report of a man showing off a pistol in the area of 100th Street and 99th Avenue.

While en route, the RCMP learned that the man had entered a business in the strip mall near 100th Street and 98A Avenue.

Neustaeter says frontline officers arrived on the scene at 1:49 p.m. and saw a man in the business who matched the description received by the police.

Officers conducted a high-risk takedown at gunpoint with the suspect, and during the search, a metal 1911-type pistol was found. The pistol was later determined to be a pellet gun.

The officers identified the man as Raymond Peterkin, known to the RCMP, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant.

Neustaeter says Peterkin was arrested on the outstanding warrant as well as possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of release order as he was on a condition not to possess any weapons.

“With some pellet and airsoft guns, it is very difficult to differentiate between replica and real as many are created to look like the real deal,” said Neustaeter. 

“Carrying and displaying any firearm in public raises significant safety concerns from the public and police, which creates an unnecessary and potentially dangerous situation, especially after the recent shots fired incidents Fort St John has experienced.”

Peterkin was transported to the detachment and held for court, where he remained in custody until November 15th. The courts released him with a future court date of November 20th.