A routine traffic stop by some Vancouver Police officers resulted in a huge gun seizure on Saturday night.
Police pulled a car over near Thurlow and Hastings at about 11 p.m. for a traffic violation.
When the officers started speaking to the driver they became suspicious as he appeared to be extremely nervous and was sweating profusely. There was also a strap protruding from under his jacket and unusual bulges under both arms.
Turns out, the man had two loaded handguns strapped to his body in shoulder holsters. When police searched the vehicle they found a rifle and shotgun.
Further investigation led the VPD Gang Crime Unit investigators to a West End apartment where they found two shotguns, three assault-style rifles and a replica Uzi.
“Guns on our streets and the threat they pose to public safety remain a concern for police,” says Inspector Scott Thompson in charge of the downtown patrol district. “We are thankful that some very good police work by our patrol officers, combined with the follow-up by the VPD Gang Crime Unit, has resulted in fewer of these guns in circulation.”
Forty-five year old Vancouver resident Alexander Bell has now been charged with multiple firearms offences.
Const. Brian Montague with the Vancouver Police says Bell has no previous criminal record, however, he recently changed his name from Garth Alexander Perry and he did have a small criminal record under that name.
Police will now be looking into whether the firearms are linked to any previous crimes and where they came from.
GALLERY: Photos courtesy of the Vancouver Police:
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