A Nanaimo man faces charges after he allegedly brought a shotgun to work and threatened a fellow employee.
The incident happened at a construction site near Country Club Centre Wednesday shortly before 1 p.m. when a man phoned police saying he had been threatened by a co-worker with a shotgun.
When police arrived the suspect had left in his truck, but investigators tracked him down to another worksite in Coombs. The suspect was arrested without incident several hours later with help from Oceanside RCMP.
Police found the shotgun allegedly used in the threat in the suspect’s truck. The firearm had a trigger lock on it preventing its use.
Mounties also found two more authorized firearms in the suspect’s home.
“This is allegedly a situation of conflict in the workplace that should have been dealt with in another manner,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “Regardless of the fact that there was a trigger guard on it and it wasn’t loaded, it’s the presumption that he has a firearm and to others it would seem like he is prepared to use it. This is totally inappropriate and as a result, he faces two Criminal Code charges.”
Dean Charles Sumner, 44, appeared in Nanaimo provincial court Thursday charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and uttering death threats.
He was released and will make his next court appearance Aug. 21.
— Nanaimo News Bulletin/Black Press