It was only a cellphone, - but on Friday night, the New Westminster Police Department had to be sure - after receiving a report of a man carrying a gun at the Landmark Cinemas at Plaza 88 on Eighth Street.
At about 7:18 p.m. on July 31, officers were dispatched to the cinema after police received a phone call from security at the cinemas saying someone had seen a man carrying a gun "in the waistband of his pants," according to Sgt. Diana McDaniel.
"An operational plan was established, which involved every available on duty patrol member, including members from the operational support team, the traffic unit and the (Lower Mainland District) emergency response team," McDaniel explained in an email to The Record.
The officers entered the cinemas and located the suspect. It was quickly determined he was wearing his cellphone on his belt and had no gun.
"His cellphone was mistaken for a gun by the witness," McDaniel said.
