Gun-shaped lighter prompts multiple police reports about armed man in New Westminster, B.C.

Police in New Westminster, B.C., launched a drone this week in an attempt to identify a suspect after receiving multiple reports of a man with a handgun, which turned out to be a butane lighter.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, a member of the public walked into the New Westminster Police Department’s headquarters to report having seen a man with a gun, the department said in a news release. A 911 call describing a “similar suspect” with a weapon in the same location came in moments later.

“The footage from the NWPD drone helped officers in determining the handgun was a butane lighter shaped like a handgun,” the statement from police said.

“The use of the NWPD drone avoided what would have been a much larger and higher-risk police response.”

Authorities said the man handed the lighter over after being informed of the concern it had caused and are reminding the public of the risk associated with gun-shaped lighters.

“These handgun-shaped lighters continue to be a source of calls to 911,” spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Leaver said, in a statement.

“When someone brandishes something that looks like a handgun in a public setting they’re putting themselves and everyone around them at risk.”

Last year, Vancouver became the first city in Canada to ban the sale of gun-shaped lighters, citing an uptick in 911 calls that required the marshalling of a significant and ultimately unnecessary police response.

LINK: https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/selling-gun-shaped-lighters-banned-in-vancouver-after-council-vote/