The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. RCMP say officers have interviewed and have released a woman who was being sought in relation to a firearms complaint on Sipekne'katik First Nation in central Nova Scotia on Sunday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The RCMP say officers have interviewed and released a woman who was being sought in relation to a firearms complaint on Sipekne’katik First Nation in central Nova Scotia on Sunday night.
Spokesman Cpl. Chris Marshall said today in a release that investigators determined there was “insufficient” evidence to lay charges, and there was no evidence found that the woman had ever been in possession of a gun.
Police say the case began at 4:45 p.m. when a person advised a Mountie patrolling the community that there was a 27-year-old woman inside a home who had a firearm that had been fired at about 4 p.m.
The officer secured the area around the home, the emergency response team was called in, and after RCMP learned the woman wasn’t inside, an emergency alert was issued to the public at about 7 p.m.
The alert named the woman, indicated she was dangerous and armed with a gun, distributed her photograph and told residents to remain inside their homes.
However, Marshall said the RCMP determined after searching a home that there was “no evidence” of a firearm being discharged or “that the woman was in possession of a firearm,” and as a result at 9:30 p.m. the emergency alert was cancelled.
The corporal said the woman turned herself in shortly after midnight Sunday and was released a short time later.
A news release from the RCMP says, “there is insufficient evidence to form the belief on reasonable grounds that an offence was committed.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2023.
