Man arrested after being seen boarding a New West bus with replica rifle
A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after someone saw him board a bus in downtown New Westminster with what looked like a rifle wrapped in a garbage bag.
The 911 call came in just before 4 p.m. on July 23.
Police say officers quickly found the bus and arrested the man near the 700 block of 6th Street at around 4:01 p.m.
They used “de-escalation techniques and clear communication” to safely take the man into custody. The rifle was later confirmed to be a replica, though it looked real enough to alarm witnesses.
After inspecting the item, police determined it was a replica firearm.
Yesterday we arrested a suspect after a 9-1-1 caller reported seeing a man board a bus near Sixth Street and Carnarvon Street with what appeared to be a rifle wrapped in a garbage bag. #NewWest https://t.co/ktdTmqiQwr pic.twitter.com/dhHle5JCsw
— New Westminster Police Department (@NewWestPD) July 24, 2025
“We’d like to thank the person who called 911,” Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in a news release.
“If you ever see anything that causes you concern for the safety of others, we ask that you make the call. We’re here for you.”
The New Westminster Police Department is reminding the public that officers must treat all firearms as real until they can confirm otherwise.
They also advise people to keep their distance when officers have weapons drawn.
The investigation is ongoing.
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