A man with multiple outstanding warrants was arrested at Hillside Shopping Centre Sunday afternoon after he was seen carrying what appeared to be a real firearm.
On January 19th at around 3:30 p.m., VicPD received a report of a man with a handgun tucked into his waistband as he entered the mall.
Police arrived on scene and arrested Duane Gerrad without incident.
According to police, the suspect was in breach of court-ordered conditions, had outstanding warrants, and was previously prohibited from possessing weapons or being at the shopping centre.
He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, failing to comply with a release order and failing to comply with a probation order.
Once in custody, the firearm was seized and determined to be a pellet gun.
Police added that this incident highlights the ongoing concern posed by replica firearms, because although they aren’t illegal, their realistic appearance can cause significant alarm and stress.
Officers treat all firearms as real until proven otherwise, and for everyone’s safety, they urge the public not to carry imitation firearms.
As of this publication, Gerrad is being held in custody, and is awaiting a court appearance later today.
