An Oliver man involved in a January standoff with the RCMP earlier this year was released on bail this week.

28 year old David McLaughlin faces charges of careless use or storage of a firearm and possessing a firearm without a licence or registration.

A man showed up on the front porch of an Oliver home (Road 5) with a long gun in his hands on January 13th. He was told to leave the property and did so, going to a fifth-wheel trailer parked in the yard of a nearby residence. Police tried to get the man to exit the trailer, where he was observed pacing inside. A constable finally convinced him to open the door and once inside seized a loaded rifle.

Conditions of his bail, given by Judge Gale Sinclair, include obeying a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and presenting himself at the door of his residence. He is also not to have any contact with the person who was threatened with the long gun.

The accused told the court he suffered from brain damage.

 

***

RCMP report

At approximately 0100 AM on Jan 13th, 2016 a resident on Rd#5 South of Oliver, BC reported a male had entered onto his property. The male had what appeared to be rifle, was not engaging with the homeowner and when told to leave he departed the property. RCMP from Penticton, Osoyoos and Oliver Detachment attended the call and identified a 5th Wheel trailer parked in the yard of a nearby residence as being where the suspicious male had returned to.

Members for two and half hours attempted to get the male to exit the trailer so his intentions could be determined without success. Members were not able to identify the male who was observed pacing in his trailer, only looking out the window but not speaking to members at scene. During the daylight hours members were able to identify the male as being David MCLAUGHLIN age 28, a previous resident of Osoyoos. MCLAUGHLIN suffers from a mental health issue a result of a brain injury and has a history of illicit drug use, the combination creating erratic sometimes violent behavior.

RCMP Members placed themselves at great risk to get close enough to the trailer to attempt to negotiate with MCLAUGHLIN asking he exit the trailer in a safe manner. MCLAUGHLIN eventually agreed to exit the trailer and once he did he was arrested for Breaching conditions of release for an unrelated matter and for the new firearms offence. A loaded rifle was located in the trailer and seized for evidence.

RCMP Oliver requested Court order MCLAUGHLIN be provided a psychiatric assessment, treatment prior to being considered for release. David MCLAUGHLIN is currently in custody faced with several Criminal Code charges and will undergo a Mental Health Assessment prior to his next court appearance.