Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Arctic Bay (Jan 14/02) - A 17-year-old Arctic Bay youth faces several gun-related charges after firing at police.

Cpl. Clare Kines of the Arctic Bay and Nanisivik detachment said the youth, who cannot be named under the Young Offenders Act, was charged after police found themselves under fire from a .303 rifle.

Kines said the incident began when the youth phoned police and asked for help after overdosing on drugs.

"Before (we could help him), we received another call from a person who told us he was waiting for us and was planning to shoot us," said Kines.

Kines said as they staked out the residence, the youth began to fire at them.

"A couple of hours into it, he began firing at the police vehicle," said Kines. At least 20 shots were fired, he added.

Backup was summoned from Iqaluit and an emergency response team from Ottawa called in. However, a police negotiator from Iqaluit contacted the youth by phone and managed to successfully convince him to give up prior to the arrival of the backup team.

The youth was charged with five counts of assault with a weapon, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm while prohibited and mischief.

The youth, who was serving time in open custody for previous offences at the time of the incident, was transported to Iqaluit late Thursday afternoon.

A date for his first court appearance had not been set by press time.