Man Brandishing Homemade Firearm Leads to Arrest and Firearm Seized

On September 12, 2026, shortly before 2:00 p.m., the Manitoba First Nations Police Service in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation received a call that an adult male was brandishing a makeshift firearm in the Townsite area of Sandy Bay.

Officers were in the area and arrived moments later. Officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident.

A backpack that the suspect was wearing was searched and found to contain a heavily modified firearm. Police also learned that the adult male suspect was on court-ordered conditions not to possess a firearm.

Joseph Oliver Richard, 27, of Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, has been remanded into custody with the following charges:

·        Unauthorized possession of a firearm

·        Careless use of a firearm

·        Possession of a firearm knowing unauthorized

·        Possession of a firearm contrary to an order

·        Fail to comply with a Release Order

If you have any information that could assist investigators, don't hesitate to contact MFNPS Sandy Bay First Nation Detachment at 204-843-7701 or the MFNPS TIPS line anonymously at 1-833-978-0048 or email TIPS@mfnp.ca. The MFNPS TIPS line is accessible 24/7, 365 days a year, and monitored regularly.