Stupid hitchhiker scares crap out of Goulaigans

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Gun call turns out to be false

GOULAIS RIVER, ON - On Sunday morning a hitchhiker on Highway 17 in Goulais River learned exactly what a real pistol looks like.

At about 10 a.m. on Sunday morning Sault Ste. Marie OPP received a call of a hitchhiker near the intersection of Highway 17 and Pineshores Drive in Goulais River.

Callers indicated that the male hitchhiker had a handgun and was pointing the gun into the ditch at the side of the roadway.

A second caller indicated that they could hear the man dry-firing the gun.

Several officers with the Sault Ste. Marie OPP Detachment responded to the call.

As the hitchhiker saw the police cars and officers with guns drawn he immediately put his hands in the air and cooperated with police.

It turns out that the alleged handgun was an air gun made in a replica of a real pistol.

When questioned about his actions with the air gun, the man said that he was just shooting at cans in the ditch while waiting for a ride.

After some discussion with officers he now realizes that there is a time and a place for such an activity and perhaps standing on the side of the highway, in front of a busy shopping plaza, was not one of his smarter moves.

Since there were no offences committed, the officers returned the air pistol to the man and drove him to a more isolated section of Highway 17 to continue his journey.

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