A 22-year-old has been charged with a slew of firearm-related offences — including one for manufacturing a cannon — in connection with a large weapons seizure in Winkler, Man.
The Winkler man was arrested Monday following a months-long investigation, the Winkler Police Service said in a news release Saturday.
Following the arrest, search warrants were executed at a home in the area and at a business where the man was employed, according to the release. Winkler police said the business isn’t believed to be involved in any criminal activity, which is why it’s not being named.
“It’s surprising, I would have not expected there was that many firearms, especially being stored improperly, in our community,” Winkler Police Chief Ryan Hunt told CBC News Saturday. “There’s lots of different people that have several firearms, that’s maybe not out of the ordinary, but to have them just sitting around the house and not stored properly and ammunition readily available is certainly concerning.”
Police seized dozens of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition during the search of a home on Eighth Street in Winkler. The release from Winkler police said the firearms and ammunition were located in plain view, readily accessible from the home and its detached garage and not stored safely.
Hunt said the number of weapons seized was a first for him. The prohibited weapons, which included a manufactured and fully operational cannon, was concerning he said.
“I never imagined that someone would manufacture themselves a little cannon,” he said. “It’s concerning that somebody would take it upon themselves to do that and not think of the far reaching consequences of doing that.”
The Winker Police Service said in a news release Saturday the full list of weapons seized included:
- 21 rifles (two of which were loaded with ammunition).
- 4 shotguns.
- 1 antique handgun.
- 1 prohibited crossbow.
- 6 homemade prohibited firearm suppressors (one installed on a loaded rifle).
- 1 homemade prohibited cannon with a projectile.
- 14 prohibited over-capacity magazines (9 loaded with ammunition, 1 of which was inserted into a rifle).
- Numerous additional magazines (many of which were loaded with ammunition).
- Hard Body Armour with a tactical vest.
- Explosive material and cannon fuse cord.
- Evidence of indoor target shooting.
- Various firearm parts.
- Over 6,500 rounds of ammunition.
- 3D printer with filament and parts required to manufacture firearms.
Police began investigating Feb. 1 after learning a suspect might be manufacturing prohibited firearm suppressors, according to the news release. The investigation, dubbed Project RECOIL, also involved the Modern Police Service and RCMP National Weapons Enforcement Support Team.
Saturday’s release said the man has since been released on a release order with numerous court conditions. He’s facing charges for manufacturing a prohibited firearm and device, unlawful storage of non-restricted and prohibited firearms, unlawful storage of a prohibited firearm and loaded non-restricted firearm. The 22-year-old also faces possession charges related to prohibited devices and the cannon along with one charge for the careless use of a firearm.
He is set to appear in Modern Provincial Court May 14, the release said.
Hunt said part of the ongoing investigation will be to determine if any of the weapons were 3D printed. There was no indication the public was at risk or that any sort of attack was being planned, said Hunt.
“The fact that the firearms were so readily available and were loaded, it’s one bad decision away from a problem,” he said.