SUMMERSIDE – A “high-risk” take-down by Summerside police early Wednesday has resulted in a 26-year-old man facing numerous charges, after witnesses reported a man wandering the downtown with an assault rifle.
Around 12:15 a.m., Summerside Police Services received a complaint of two people being approached by a man carrying what was described as an “assault rifle.”
Corporal Jason Blacquiere says the term “assault rifle” is commonly used to describe a rifle or gun with a larger magazine and often times are guns police forces or military forces use.
The alleged victims, two women, reported they were in a parked car at the Harbourfront Theatre (formerly Jubilee Theatre) parking lot when they say the man approaching their vehicle.
The pair immediately fled the area and called police.
Blacquiere says the pair also went to the station to report the incident.
The suspect, a Summerside man, was identified as Adrian Steven Gallant and was located shortly after in the downtown area.
“After speaking with the women, we were able to determine who the suspect was,” said Blacquiere.
It was later determined the alleged weapon was an airsoft style gun.
Police say a “high-risk takedown” was conducted by four officers and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
“A high-risk takedown is basically when we have a call of elevated risk, normally involving weapons. Officers take extra precautionary measures. The call was in regard to possible assault rifle, so our officers put on hard body armour which is capable of stopping rounds from a higher power weapon and also had their carbine rifles ready as they took the suspect into custody,” said Blacquiere.
“So that morning the shift supervisor would tell the officers what the plan of the ‘takedown’ would be. So, they would instruct officers where they were to be and what they were to be doing, whether they would use the carbine rifles, put on the heavy body armour all of those things.”
He said carbine rifles are guns that have a shorter barrel, and added that the department uses them because it allows officers to have more movement.
“The airsoft gun that was used in this incident has the same weight, dimensions and feel as a real assault rifle. Airsoft guns are not illegal in Canada, but it’s what the item could be used for that makes the actions of the Summerside incident fall under the criminal code.
Usually airsoft guns have an orange tip at the end of the barrel. This one had its removed.”
But it’s not a fool proof marker that determines whether a gun is fake or not.
“There is an issue with that because people can remove the orange tip and make the gun look real or can add an orange tip to a real gun to disguise it as fake.”
The corporal said airsoft guns aren’t usually dangerous, as they shoot small round BB pellets.
He added when the “takedown” occurred, officers engaged the suspect, who was known to police, verbally and told him what to do. Blacquiere said the suspect was cooperative during the arrest. Gallant was arrested near the corner of Water and Granville streets.
Blacquiere says receiving calls of this nature are not common.
“It appears as though this person had their weapon in possession with the intent of scaring people. So, displaying it as though it was real and acting as though it was real. When we get those types of calls they’re treated differently than a call about someone shooting pop cans in their backyard.”
At the time of his arrest, Gallant did not have the weapon in his possession. It was later recovered during a search of his residence. Because of this, Summerside police were in the process of engaging an RCMP dog handler to aid in the search for the weapon.
Also found in his home was a “slungshot” which is described as a rag with a large bolt tied onto the end of it.
Blacquiere says the procedure going into a high-risk situation like this wouldn’t have changed even though the call came in less than a month after the fatal shooting in Fredericton.
“But they can certainly weigh on us mentally. It’s unfortunate that situations like these occur but they are part of the job and we need to move forward from them.
“In situations like this, the adrenaline is always flowing but you just have to stay focused.”
Summerside Police Const. Sam Ellis says she remembers being part of a high-risk takedown when she served in Medicine Hat, Alta.
“It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. But it’s really intense. Your adrenaline is going the whole time and you’re really in the moment. Nothing else matters. It’s like you almost get tunnel vision because the focus has to be on the situation.”
Gallant appeared in Summerside provincial court late Wednesday facing two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and careless use of a weapon. He will remain in police custody until his next court appearance on Sept. 19.
