Man on trial after loaded gun found in car during traffic stop

Photo: Castanet Staff

A man standing trial this week in B.C. Supreme Court is accused of driving around Clearwater last year with a loaded semi-automatic handgun on his front passenger seat.

Steven Lance Ronald Leeson’s trial on five charges — including two weapons-related counts — began on Tuesday morning.

Crown prosecutor Anthony Varesi said the 41-year-old was the subject of a traffic stop on Feb. 12, 2021, in Clearwater.

Court heard police found two firearms and a suitcase containing weapons and ammunition during a search following the stop.

Clearwater RCMP Const. Toby Klassen said he pulled Leeson over for stopping his vehicle in the middle of a roadway. He said he ran the man’s name and quickly learned he was a prohibited driver wanted on a warrant out of Chase.

The Mountie said he also learned Leeson was on a number of conditions, including terms barring him from possessing weapons and firearms.

Klassen said he arrested Leeson and searched his car, turning up the weapons. He described finding a loaded .22-calibre semi-automatic handgun in a backpack sitting on the front passenger seat.

“I unzipped one pouch of the bag and immediately saw what appeared to me to be the butt of a handgun,” he said.

“I retrieved the handgun from the bag and confirmed that it was indeed a gun. I released the clip that was loaded into the handle of the handgun and confirmed there was ammunition in the clip.”

Leeson is charged with two firearms-related counts and one count each of breach, driving while prohibited and possessing identity documents.

Defence lawyer Casey St. Germain is arguing the search of Leeson's vehicle was illegal and his detention by police at the scene was arbitrary.

Leeson's two-day trial in front of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Dennis Hori is expected to conclude on Wednesday. He remains free on bail.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of charges Leeson is facing.