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Gun sighting near Penticton school leads to chase

While being detained by police the man fled on a bicycle and went into the Penticton Library
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Penticton RCMP arrested a man who fled after a reported gun sighting near Queens Park Elementary School early Thursday afternoon. Western News file photo

A reported sighting of a man with a gun near Queens Park Elementary School prompted deployment of all police resources just before 1 p.m. Thursday.

According to Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth patrols located a man matching that description about 20 minutes later near Main Street and Eckhardt Avenue and he was taken into custody.

While being detained by police the man fled on a bicycle and went into the Penticton Library.

Police gave chase and blocked off all exits. The suspect was arrest inside the hallway near the west exit of the library.

“No firearm was found, but there were items and weapons in his possession that could have been mistaken for a gun by the witnesses,” said Wrigglesworth.

The 32-year-old-man was wanted on arrest warrants out of Princeton and new charges are also being recommended to Crown Counsel.

He is being held in custody to appear in Penticton Provincial Court on Friday morning.

It was the second gun-related incident that day after police responded to a shots-fired call just after midnight in the 1300-block of Carmi Avenue.

Related: Standoff ends without incident