Officers responding to a report of men arguing over a vehicle in the shopping centre parking lot at about 3 p.m. gave chase after the man bolted, dashing into a nearby Bay store on the east side of the mall. The suspect ran through the store, toppling racks of clothing in an attempt to evade the officers, police said.

He was finally tackled by the doors on the west side of the mall. Police found in his possession a loaded .22 calibre handgun and a bag of ammunition, a flare gun and several rounds and five multi-tool knives.

David Grenier, 24, of no fixed address is charged with five weapons offences and breach of probation.