Moncton was on the mind of many residents of a Rothesay, N.B. neighbourhood, where a sighting of an armed man prompted police to flock to the area.
Kennebecasis Regional Police say an officer on patrol spotted an armed man entering the woods near a residential area shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
“What it appeared to be was a long gun and it appeared to have a scope on it. We backed away, called out, there was no response,” said Const. Jason Murray of the Kennebecasis police.
More police rushed to the area, beginning a search that would last about three hours.
Local resident Travis Jones only learned he was in the middle of a police hunt when he went outside to go to a friend’s house.
“I went to pull out of the driveway and the cop yelled at me to stay in my driveway,” he said.
“Then I stay in my car and the cop came down through the woods and had his gun in his hand and said to show my hands and told me to get out.”
Cathy Dugas was outside with her sisters doing yard work when police came, telling them to take it indoors.
“It was very nerve-wracking and overwhelming because you're like what is going on,” Dugas said.
All the residents who spoke with CTV News said the incident reminded them of the shootings in Moncton last year, while Kennebecasis police said it was a case of better safe than sorry.
“There was never any direct contact or threats made toward police or the public,” said Murray.
Police never did find the individual they were looking for, described only as a man wearing a dark hoodie.
After completing a full sweep of the area in about three hours of searching, police made the decision there was no longer a threat.
With no new information, police say their investigation at this point is no longer active.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore
