A 23-year-old man has been charged with weapons-related offences after a Calgary resident reported seeing a man in Stanley Park with what looked like a handgun Sunday afternoon. A Calgary police officer shot at the man when he refused to comply with police, and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) continues to investigate after confirming he was carrying a replica antique handgun.
Police were called to the southwest park at about 3:40 p.m. to find the man walking between trees near an area where kids were playing soccer. Police cleared the area and tried to speak to the man, who refused to comply.
“The situation escalated to the point where a member of CPS discharged a firearm,” Calgary police said Monday in a statement. “A suspect was subsequently taken into custody. There were no injuries.”
ASIRT is investigating since a police officer discharged his pistol at the suspect.
“The man fled a short distance through the park and was confronted again where he subsequently placed the handgun on the ground and surrendered to police,” ASIRT said. “The handgun being carried by the man was seized and determined to be a replica antique handgun.”
ASIRT investigators are asking anyone who was in Stanley Park shortly after 3:40 p.m. on Sunday and who may have seen the confrontations between the police and the man to contact ASIRT at 403-592-4306.
Police said Monday Richard James Wolfchild was charged with one count each of assault with a weapon, assaulting a peace officer, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and obstruction. He’s set to appear in court March 23.
“The CPS will conduct the investigation into any possible criminal conduct of the man,” ASIRT said in a statement. “ASIRT’s investigation will focus on the circumstances surrounding the police interaction with the man that led to the discharge of a service pistol.”
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