CHAT News File Photo

By Regan Tate

Allegedly brandished, pointed firearm

Local man charged after threatening neighbour

Sep 12, 2022 | 2:30 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat police are releasing more details about a high-risk incident that occurred on Sunday.

Police say they are unaware of any previous history between two neighbours before they were called to a home on Cooper Road SE following a report of a male who had threatened his neighbour with a handgun.

“We do know that they were acquaintances, knew of each other just by virtue of the close proximity of their residences,” says Jason Graham, MHPS acting inspector of operations. “We’re not really sure why or what sparked or intitiated this confrontation yesterday but we can say that it was an isolated incident, it’s not something random. Again these two parties did know each other or knew of each other.”

Information received by police was that a male suspect approached a neighbour, brandished a handgun and then made a direct threat to the victim before returning home.

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When police arrived on scene, the immediate area was secured to ensure the suspect was contained to his home and nearby residents were advised to shelter in place.

After some negotiating, the suspect was taken into custody without incident. A search warrant was then executed on the suspect’s home and a black handgun-style BB gun, along with a holster was located.

Graham reminds people that BB guns or pellet guns often look very similar to if not exactly like traditional handguns such as the ones police carry on day-to-day operations.

“It’s the perceived threat. It’s what the individual thought it was and he thought it was an actual higher-calibre firearm,” he explains. “We presume that it is a genuine firearm in the traditional sense not a BB gun or pellet gun although a BB gun and a pellet gun can cause significant injury as well.”

The suspect has been identified as 44-year-old Dennis Lecaine of Medicine Hat.

Lecaine was charged with uttering threats, possession of a dangerous weapon and pointing a firearm. He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in provincial court on Oct. 5.