Nanaimo RCMP arrested an 18-year-old man on this field after believing he was armed with a real gun. The takedown happened Thursday, Sept. 26 just before noon. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW) Intense scene ‘He’s very lucky:’ police arrest man in Nanaimo thought to be armed with real gun Sep 26, 2019 8:08 AM

NANAIMO — Police say a high-risk arrest involving a young man armed with BB guns could have turned out much worse.

RCMP swarmed the Hammond Bay/Rutherford Rd. area Thursday, Sept. 26 just before noon in response to what police say was a man pointing a gun toward a person at a nearby home and running away.

Cst. Gary O’Brien said officers tracked the suspect from Delta Circle (off Broadway Rd) to the playing field of the closed Rutherford Elementary property.

O’Brien said the suspect initially didn’t obey officers’ orders to drop his weapon.