Man arrested with inoperable firearm in Vernon

Dec 9, 2025 | 2:21 PM

Police had a quick response to a report of a firearm in a Vernon neighbourhood Monday morning that turned out to be a replica.

Police received a call at around 7:45 a.m. Dec. 8 of a man with what appeared to be a firearm laying on the street in the 3900-block of 24th Avenue.

The witness called for police after the man rose to his feet and was staggering, with the gun in his hand.

Officers quickly convened on the scene and located the suspect, who complied with police direction and was safely arrested without incident.

An inspection of the firearm found it was a silver revolver, though it was determined it was inoperable and loaded with blanks.

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“If it looks like a gun, it’s treated like a gun,” Constable Chris Terleski, spokesperson for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, stated.

“Firearms complaints are taken seriously, and to ensure the safety of the public and our officers, all firearms are treated as real and loaded until proven otherwise. Police officers act and intervene based on the information available to them at the time. Imitation guns, such as airsoft, BB, and pellet guns, as well as cigarette lighters shaped like handguns — pose a significant risk because, even under ideal conditions, it is nearly impossible to determine if they are real or fake. Having them in public can potentially lead to a dangerous encounter with police.”

Police say the suspect, a 56-year-old Vernon man, was released from custody pending a court appearance on a charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

by Liam Verster

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