Thirty-six-year-old Randy Pope of Appleton will appear in court today to face multiple charges involving unlawful use of a firearm and other offences stemming from an incident yesterday, August 13, that saw an area of Appleton shut down while police responded to a complaint of a firearm being pointed at a resident. Pope has been charged with the following:
- Assault with Weapon, three counts Pointing a Firearm, three counts
- Mischief, two counts
- Using a Firearm in the Commission of an Offence
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
- Uttering Threats, two counts
- Careless Use of Firearm
- Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Court Order, two counts
At approximately 7:20 am yesterday, August 13, Gander RCMP responded to a complaint in Appleton where witnesses reported that a firearm had been pointed at a local resident. Officers attended and tracked a suspect to a house in the River Road area. Initially, the man refused to exit the residence. People living in the immediate area were evacuated from their homes as a precaution, while others were asked to remain inside their homes and avoid the area of River Road and Roland Road in the town. Pope was arrested and taken into custody late morning. He appeared in court in Gander later in the day and will attend court again today.
Police are still at the scene and the investigation is continuing.