North Okanagan
Loaded and packing heat
A 34-year-old Cherryville man faces alcohol and weapons charges after he was caught impaired behind the wheel of a vehicle with a loaded rifle at his side.
Police in Lumby were called just after 1 a.m. Monday with reports of a possible impaired driver in the Cherryville area.
An officer located the vehicle and spoke to the driver who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
"Our officer then noticed a rifle leaning on the front seat between the driver and passenger," says RCMP spokesman, Gord Molendyk.
"The officer had the driver exit the truck and removed the rifle for safety reasons. When our officer checked the rifle he found it to be loaded with two rounds."
The driver apparently had several more rounds in his jacket.
Molendyk says the man was returned to the detachment where his blood alcohol level was found to be twice the legal limit.
Two passengers in the vehicle were allowed to leave.
The incident remains under investigation.
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