A man is charged with 12 crimes including firearms offences, kidnapping, uttering threats and assault after shots were allegedly fired in Surrey.
Kia Kaeni, 34, was charged on Oct. 30.
Surrey RCMP Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha said New Westminster police did a traffic stop early morning Oct. 26 after spotting a vehicle “driving erratically” with “suspicious” damage, and arrested the driver and passenger.
“During the investigation officers recovered a loaded firearm and learned that, prior to the traffic stop, an incident had occurred in the parkade of a building in Surrey where a man allegedly threatened another with a firearm and shots were fired,” Sangha said. “No one was injured during this incident, and Surrey RCMP did not receive any reports or calls for service related to this incident. Surrey RCMP General Investigation Section worked closely with New Westminster Police Department on this investigation.
“Thankfully no bystanders were injured during this incident,” Sangha said. “This is a great example of police agencies working collaboratively to keep communities safe.”
Sgt. Andrew Leaver, of NWPD, said the New Westminster police officer “demonstrated exceptional courage and professionalism in a highly dangerous set of circumstances.
“In that instance he did not know if the occupants of the vehicle were going to comply with his instructions and it was initially unknown if the driver had a firearm. Thanks to his training and the cooperation of the driver, no one was injured during the arrest.”
Kaeni is set to appear in Surrey provincial court on Nov. 23, charged with kidnapping, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, auto theft, robbery using a restricted/prohibited weapon, using a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence, discharge a firearm with intent to wound or disfigure, unlawfully discharging a firearm, pointing a firearm, storage of a firearm contrary to regulation, having a prohibited/restricted firearm and possessing a firearm with licence or registration.