Gunpoint arrest made on Highway 17 in West Nipissing

A man from Wikwemikoong has been charged after brandishing what appeared to be a handgun, but was actually an airgun.

A Manitoulin Island man was arrested at gunpoint on Highway 17 Wednesday afternoon, police say.

Officers were called to a location in West Nipissing, between Sudbury and North Bay, around 12:45 p.m. where a man was reportedly “brandishing a firearm,” Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Thursday.

The suspect was seen walking down the street in Sturgeon Falls before being confronted by police in a parking lot, OPP Const. Rob Lewis told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an email.

He was arrested at gunpoint and officers seized two air handguns, police said.

• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
• Want more local news? Check out the North Bay area page

“During the arrest, the individual advised police of an injury received earlier that day, but would not disclose how the injury occurred,” Lewis said.

“As (a) precaution, the individual was transported to the hospital and later released from the hospital.”

The injury was sustained before police arrived, the news release said.

The 34-year-old suspect from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is charged with nine different offences including pointing a firearm, having a firearm or ammunition despite a prohibition order and two counts of failing to comply with a release order.

He is being held in custody pending a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear in court in North Bay on Thursday.

• Download the CTV News app now
• Get local breaking news alerts