A 38-year-old man is facing numerous gun-related charges after allegedly raising concerns for the public’s safety, and his own, when he left a West Lincoln, Ont., home in a pick-up truck carrying a firearm, prompting a school to be temporarily placed in a hold and secure.
The incident happened on the morning of Sept. 8, at around 7:45 a.m., when Niagara Regional Police officers responded to a home to attend to a family violence call.
“Responding officers received information that the caller wanted an intoxicated male removed from a residence,” police said in a release.
Before they arrived, police said the man left the residence in a white Ford pick-up truck, supposedly carrying a firearm, and allegedly made statements that “raised concern for his personal safety, the safety of the community, and the safety of responding officers.”
Shortly after 9 a.m. that day, Niagara police said they were looking for a man believed to be in a white Ford Ranger in the area of Concession Road 2 and Centre Road. Nearly 40 minutes later, authorities said in a post on X that they believed the man was on foot, asking locals to stay where they are and not to answer their door for anyone.
As a precaution, police said a nearby school was placed under a hold and secure order.
After a short period of time, police say they located the pick-up truck and determined the suspect had walked into a nearby wooded area.
Officers say they found firearm magazines and additional ammunition during their search.
The Emergency Task Unit eventually caught up with the suspect and negotiated a “safe and peaceful surrender,” and brought the suspect into custody just before 10:30 a.m.
Christopher Morley was charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose at the time.
On Wednesday, Niagara police said they conducted a search warrant on a residence in West Lincoln, Ont. Following that, investigators said they seized 18 improperly stored firearms and additional ammunition.
Morley faces six additional firearms-related offences, including possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition. The charges have not been tested in court.
“This investigation remains ongoing, and more charges are expected,” Wednesday’s news release reads.
Investigators are asking anyone with additional information to contact them or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
With files from CP24’s Joshua Freeman
