A man is fortunate to be alive after he pointed what appeared to be a gun at police earlier this week. Officers restrained from shooting him only because of risk to bystanders. It turns out the gun was a bicycle pump. 

Police responded to a robbery of the Liquor Mart in the 300 block of Ellice Avenue on June 19, 2019, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Employees and customers told officers that the man who robbed the store was armed with a gun.

The WPS says in a release that officers saw the suspect a short time later on the same street. The suspect "produced what was believed to be a firearm from his waistband, adopted a shooting stance and pointed it at officers from approximately 75 feet away.

"Officers assessed whether or not lethal force was justified, but determined there was an increased risk to the public if they discharged their service firearms."

As more officers arrived on the scene they were able to subdue the man and take him into custody. Upon arresting him they found a stolen bottle of liquor and the bicycle pump.

Andrew Claude Scott, a 40-year-old male of Winnipeg, has been charged with Armed Robbery Using a Firearm, Fail to Comply with Probation Order, Fail to Comply Condition Recognizance by Judge/Justice (x2). Scott was detained in custody.