TikTok video shoot in Surrey sparks large police response (with photos)

A group of young men filming a video for social media sparked a large emergency response to Mud Bay Park in Surrey.

Shortly before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Surrey RCMP officers were deployed in an urgent response to the report of a man with a firearm in the park at 1431 Colebrook Road.  Witnesses who called police reported seeing a man with a gun put another male in a headlock and bring him into the bushes.

When officers arrived they located and arrested a group of 12 young men between the ages of 25 and 30 years old. The group informed the officers they were filming a TikTok video and had two pistol-style airsoft guns in the bushes. Police searched the area and found two airsoft pistols, one baseball bat, one camera, and a chair with a rope.

The 12 males were released from police custody and were each issued a bylaw ticket for Section 33 of the Parks Regulation Bylaw 1998 No.13480, which prohibits the carrying of an airgun within a park without the prior written permission of the general manager. The associated penalty for that violation is $200.

“Police have a duty to respond to all weapons calls as legitimate public safety concerns,” said Cpl. Elenore Sturko. “This group of young men put themselves and others at risk as a result of their poor decision making. Airsoft pistols and other replica firearms are best left at home, or better yet, for the safety and well-being of our community, please don’t buy one.”