THE man arrested by Surrey Police Service (SPS) on Sunday, August 2 for alleged firearm-related offences has had charges sworn against him by the BC Prosecution Service.

Shortly before 1:30 a.m. on August 2, SPS frontline officers responded to a 9-1-1 call that a driver of a vehicle was slumped over in their car that was stopped in the middle of the road near the intersection of 18 Avenue and 138 Street.

Officers arrived on scene and positioned their police cars to prevent the vehicle from driving away. The driver, who was the lone occupant of the vehicle, was found to be slumped over in the driver’s seat and unresponsive. Officers were concerned the driver needed medical attention and as officers tried to take him into custody, the man regained consciousness and tried to start the vehicle and drive away, which was prevented by the police cars.

The driver was safely taken into custody and an unloaded firearm, along with ammunition and three knives, were all located inside the vehicle and seized.

Christopher Joseph Allan Faucher, a 33-year-old male, has been charged with one count each of possession of an unloaded prohibited or restricted firearm with accessible ammunition without a licence; occupying a vehicle knowing there was a prohibited or restricted firearm, a handgun and loaded magazine; careless transport of a firearm or ammunition, namely a handgun and loaded magazine; possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; obstruction of a peace officer; and failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking.

Faucher has been remanded in custody for a bail hearing on Tuesday.