UPDATED: Charges sworn against armed man who stormed Rossland City Hall
By Rossland Telegraph
Court records have revealed the name of a man who allegedly breached Rossland City Hall armed with a bow-and-arrow and other weapons. Twenty-four-year-old Matthew Ponka has been charged with two counts of carry/have in their possession weapons/firearms, once count of mischief, one count of forcible entry and one count of possessing weapon for dangerous purpose.
Ponka has been released by the courts under very strict conditions into the custody of his family members and will be monitored by the Trail RCMP while in the community. His next court date is scheduled for March 4, 2021.
Original coverage:
RCMP arrested an armed man who allegedly pushed his way past staff inside the Rossland City Hall earlier this morning, according to RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowich..
“On Jan. 26, just moments before 7 a.m., Trail and Greater District RCMP responded to an unfolding incident where an individual armed with a bow and arrow had entered inside the Rossland City Hall.
“Police have learned that the armed man entered through a back door to the facility, prior to the facility opening to the general public for the day. The suspect refused to leave and proceeded to lock himself in an office inside the civic building.”
Trail RCMP was contacted and responded immediately to the scene.
“The suspect has been identified by police as a 24-year-old Rossland man. With the use of crisis de-escalation tactics. the man was taken into police custody without further incident. He remains in police custody at this time, Wicentowich said.
Although the suspect was armed with what is being considered a weapon, no one was injured during the incident.
Trail RCMP are continuing to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the event.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to the police, is asked to contact the Trail and Greater District RCMP Detachment at 250-364-2566
