An incident at an Abbotsford apartment building Monday afternoon in which a naked man was reported to have fired two shots and aimed a handgun at another resident has resulted in charges being laid.
Ryan George Vaughan, 30, has been charged with six offences – careless use of a firearm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, possessing a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, and break and enter.
Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said Vaughan could also face drug charges, but they have not yet been laid.
The incident began at about 3:45 p.m. Monday in the Town and Country apartment complex at 33690 Marshall Rd. Police received reports that a naked man was in a hallway with a gun, had fired two shots, had aimed the gun in a threatening manner at another person, and had set off the fire alarm.
More than 30 officers from all sections – including the Municipal Integrated Emergency Response Team – were deployed to the scene, where they cordoned off adjacent streets and
evacuated tenants.
MacDonald said the situation was tense, particularly as Game 6 in the Stanley Cup playoffs was about to start, and the building was full of tenants.
At first, officers had a vague description of the suspect, but it wasn't clear what suite he resided in. Some officers surrounded the building, while others tried to track down the cul
prit on the inside.
A man appeared on a third-floor balcony – which police later learned was the suite above his residence – and began throwing things, including a fire extinguisher. MacDonald said the suspect disappeared in and out of the suite, while officers tried to communicate with him from the ground and outside the apartment door.
"For the most part, he appeared to be somewhat oblivious to what was going on, and agitated at the same time."
The man was arrested at about 5:45 p.m. when he scaled the balconies down to the ground. He was first taken to the Abbotsford Police station and then to the hospital for assessment.
Vaughan was scheduled to appear tomorrow (Thursday) in Abbotsford provincial court for a bail hearing.
