On December 31, 2008 around 10:00 p.m., Portage la Prairie RCMP responded to a firearm complaint at a residence located approximately 12 km south of MacGregor, MB.
A 20-year-old man from the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk was threatening to shoot someone, and would shoot anyone, including police, who came on the property. The parents of the man, who was identified as Kyle Olson, were in the residence as well, and tried to convince him to cooperate with the police.
RCMP Emergency Response Team, RCMP negotiators, Police Services Dog and members of the Amaranth and Treherne Detachment attended the scene to assist. RCMP were in contact with Olson via the telephone in attempts to have him surrender to police. After two hours Olson did discharge the firearm multiple times, however the shots were not directed at anyone, and police did not discharge their weapons. Around 3:00 a.m., after five hours of negotiations, ERT members took custody of Olson. A firearm and an edged weapon were seized.
There were no injuries sustained by anyone, alcohol is believed to be a factor. Kyle Olson has been charged with two counts of uttering threats, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm and possess a weapon dangerous to the public.
Olson was remanded to appear in court in Portage la Prairie on January 5, 2009.
Cst. Stephen Senuita
Portage la Prairie RCMP
Tel: 204-857-4445
Fax: 204-239-0130
