Bike cops got more than they bargained for when they chased down a man with open alcohol and found a loaded handgun.

The officers were cycling around the Heatherington and Fairlea community Thursday afternoon when they spotted the man with open booze.

They went up to him and told him to take the wobbly pop somewhere legal. The man "became increasingly nervous" and eventually took off, chucking stuff away as he fled.

Officers, hot on his tail, watched as he legged it into a home on the 1400 block of Heatherington Rd.

They chased him inside, arrested him and found the gun -- a fully-loaded .45 handgun.

The 22-year-old Ottawa man faces a pile of firearms charges as well as breach of recognizance.

He never got to finish his drink and was instead held in custody for a court appearance Friday.

doug.hempstead@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @DougHempstead"