A pellet gun triggered the arrest of a Nanaimo man Monday.
The incident happened at about 2:45 p.m. when Mounties, acting on information a suspect possessed a handgun, stopped a vehicle on Albert Street near the Selby Street intersection, surrounded the car and commanded the suspect to get out. Police spotted the butt of the handgun sticking out of the waistband of his pants and he got out of the vehicle.
“The guy turns his back to them and they can see the handgun,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
After a scuffle to get the pistol from the suspect and arrest him, police got a close look at the firearm and realized it was a replica pellet gun that, at first glance, resembles the 9mm Smith and Wesson service sidearm issued to police.
Dustin Derreck Pacheo, 28, of Nanaimo, was held in custody overnight and appeared in Nanaimo provincial court Tuesday morning where he was charged with one count of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.