A Prince George man is facing several charges after police found a loaded SKS rifle in his vehicle.
The arrest came after two weeks of being on the lookout for the man.
During the early morning hours of Thursday April 12, a General Duty officer attempted to conduct a roadside check of a vehicle after the driver violated the Motor Vehicle Act on Carney Street. The vehicle failed to stop and fled police at a high rate of speed. In the interest of public safety, the officer did not attempt to pursue the vehicle.
On Tuesday April 24 at approximately 4:30 p.m., the same Prince George RCMP officer observed the same vehicle near the intersection of 20th Avenue and Victoria Street. Several police vehicles converged on the vehicle as it made its way through a local restaurant drive through.
The driver was found to be prohibited from driving in Canada and a fixed blade hunting knife was observed in close proximity to the driver’s seat. The driver was arrested. A search of the vehicle located a loaded SKS rifle covered by a jacket on the back seat and within reach of the driver, say police. The firearm was equipped with an overcapacity magazine and a second overcapacity magazine was located. A quantity of methamphetamine and marihuana was also located and seized.
Clayton Angus Middlemiss, a 29-year-old resident of Prince George, has been charged with:
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle
- Knowingly Possess a Firearm without a Licence
- Knowingly Possess a Prohibited Device without a Licence (2 counts)
- Possession of a Firearm without a Licence
- Possession of a Prohibited Device without a Licence (2 counts)
- Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace (4 counts)
- Transport a Firearm Contrary to Regulations
- Driving While Prohibited (2 counts)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
- Breach of Probation
Middlemiss has also been charged with five other offences stemming from an incident that occurred on November 21, 2017 in Prince George, where a vehicle was being driven in a dangerous manner:
- Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Driving While Prohibited (2 counts) – Criminal Code
- Driving While Prohibited – Motor Vehicle Act
- Breach of Probation
If you have any information about firearms related offences or persons that are driving while prohibited, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca (English only). You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest or seizure of firearms, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
