Calgary man charged in connection with Bowness standoff

CALGARY – A Calgary man has been charged in connection with a standoff in Bowness on Friday that involved shots being fired.

Police were called to a house in Bowness early Friday morning. When they arrived the man took off in a vehicle, refusing to stop.

Hawcs pursued the vehicle and eventually set up a containment in a nearby alleyway. Shots were fired, but police say no one was targeted and their were no resulting injuries.

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Neighbours say the situation was tense.

“I was sitting on the floor watching,” says Star Morrissey. “They were at the front of the house and they had their guns pulled. I think they had sniper rifles as well and so we just basically waited.”

Police say the accused is well known to them. In 2007, Lee Wesley Hollinger was charged with second degree murder in connection with a fatal brawl outside a mission area bar.

That charge was stayed, but when police searched his home they found a collection of weapons; including six handguns, rocket propelled grenades and an uzi style sub machine gun.

Hollinger was sentenced to a 10 year weapons ban after pleading guilty to 19 weapons-related charges.

Lee Wesley Hollinger faces several weapons-related charges in connection with Friday’s standoff. He’s also been charged with failing to stop for a police officer and possession of body armour without a valid permit.

He is due to appear in court on Monday.