Police pursuit ends with no charges laid

[attach]5287[/attach]Three men investigated for carrying a firearm in an SUV have been released unconditionally after police found their paintball gun was mistaken for a handgun.

Wingold Avenue, near Lawrence Avenue and Dufferin Street, was blocked off by several police cars after a green Jeep was pulled over around noon on Dec. 30. Three male occupants in the car were handcuffed and placed in cruisers.

Earlier, a motorist had called in to OPP to report of a vehicle at Highway 427 and Derry Road with occupants who were reportedly pointing a handgun from the moving vehicle.

The males were initially arrested and investigated for the offence of weapons dangerous, said Sgt. Dave Woodford. Hours later, they were released unconditionally.

After receiving the call, officers reportedly caught up with the vehicle on the highway, and followed it to Highway 401 and Keele Street.

The vehicle exited the highway and travelled on to city streets. Police pulled the Jeep over just metres from Sgt. Splatter’s Project Paintball facility on Wingold Avenue.

Woodford said police get calls “like these all the time” especially related to suspected drunk drivers. He encourages anyone suspecting unlawful behaviour to phone police, as sometimes the investigation leads to charges being laid.

“We can’t be everywhere,” he said.