11 a.m., April 2
An airsoft gun was at the centre of a large police presence in Port Coquitlam on Saturday (April 1).
Mounties determined the weapon to be a replica after responding to a report of someone with a rifle before 11:45 a.m. near the intersection of Burns Road and Dominion Avenue/Fremont Connector.
Bystanders explained to the Tri-City News they saw dozens of RCMP cruisers parked near a residence, which resulted in traffic closures and transit detours for several hours.
Spokesperson Cpl. Alexa Hodgins said the report was ultimately resolved without any charges following officers' quick response.
"Coquitlam RCMP are reminding the public of the dangers of displaying replica firearms in public as they can appear real,” she told the Tri-City News.
"Police are going to quickly respond to these types of reports assuming that the firearm is real to ensure the safety of the public."
Bus routes have since returned to normal operations, according to TransLink.
12:45 p.m., April 1
It appears local traffic and transit have been detoured away from a prominent Port Coquitlam intersection as a result of noticeably large RCMP presence.
Witnesses tell the Tri-City News several dozen police vehicles were spotted outside a residence near Dominion Avenue and Fremont Connector today (April 1).
Bystanders also said they heard officers ask someone to allegedly put their hands up.
It's not clear, as of this publication, if an arrest has been made or how long police will remain on scene to conduct their investigation.
In the meantime, local residents and commuters are encouraged to avoid the area.
TransLink says bus detours are in place for its 172 route, which takes riders from the Fremont Connector to Coquitlam Central Station.
