Gun found after police spot masked taxi riders

Winnipeg police officers seized a sawed-off rifle and arrested a 13-year-old boy after spotting people wearing ski masks inside a taxi Monday afternoon.

North district community support officers were on patrol at about 3:45 p.m. when they noticed the taxi’s masked occupants, who weren’t wearing seatbelts, near McPhillips Street and Pritchard Avenue, police said.

While speaking to one of the passengers, the officers noticed what appeared to be the outline of a gun inside a satchel.

After arresting the passengers, police seized a sawed-off .22-calibre rifle and ammunition, a shotgun shell and about half a gram of methamphetamine, which has a street value of about $30, a news release said.

A 21-year-old man is charged with gun and drug offences, and two counts of failing to comply with the condition of an undertaking. He was previously banned from possessing weapons.

A 13-year-old boy is facing a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, prohibited device or ammunition. He was released on an undertaking. A third passenger was released without charges.