ATHABASCA, Alta. — A family dispute at the Summer Village of South Baptiste Lake Aug. 14, turned into a chase through the bush involving officers from several detachments after a gun was fired at the scene.
Athabasca RCMP received a call at 4:30 p.m. about a dispute with a father and his adult son which became physical, so members were sent to the scene, said Staff-Sgt. Mark Hall.
“Upon attending the residence in Baptiste Lake, the son fired a rifle and fled into the tree line,” Hall said in an Aug. 19 e-mail. “Members secured the area and were assisted by neighbouring detachments and the Emergency Response Team.”
He said it was first believed the shot was fired at RCMP.
“During a follow-up interview, he indicated he fired into the ground,” said Hall.
Eventually the son was located and taken into custody without incident and no officer or member of the public were injured.
“Due to the likelihood that identifying the son will lead to the potential of re-victimizing the father, we are not releasing his name,” Hall said.
RCMP put out a notice to the public to avoid the area near Township Road 663A and Range Road 244, soon after arriving, and left the scene at around 11 p.m.
The son was charged with assault, uttering threats and firearm offences.
