Striking bus drivers were threatened with a gun outside Orchard Park Mall, according to president Scott Lovell.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

'HE THREATENED TO SLASH EVERYONE ON THE PICKET LINE'

KELOWNA – Striking Kelowna bus drivers say they had a gun pulled on them outside Orchard Park Shopping Mall today.

Amalgamated Transit Union local 1722 president Scott Lovell says at around 10:30 a.m. Nov. 21 a man on a BMX bike rode by and made a comment to the 30 to 35 members who were picketing outside Kelowna’s main mall.

“He was telling everyone to ‘get back to work’ and calling them lazy,” Lovell says. “Then he threatened to slash everyone on the picket line.”

Lovell says some of the members recognized him from their routes and approached. That’s when, according to Lovell, he put down his bike and pulled out the gun.

“What do you think about this?” Lovell says he asked as he pointed it at the members. When more members approached, Lovell says he got back on his bike and rode away.

Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says a suspect was taken into custody who "reportedly produced a weapon in a threatening manner." The suspect's name has not been released.

“Investigators have recovered a pellet gun they believe was used in the commission of the offence,” O’Donaghey says. “Thankfully, no one was physically injured during the incident and the public is no longer at risk.”

A 29-year-old Kelowna man of no fixed address remains in police custody.

ATU local 1722 is in their second week of strike action after contract talks with its employer, First Canada, fell apart. Lovell says the vast majority of interactions they’ve had with the public have been positive.

— This story was updated at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 to include information from RCMP that a suspect has been taken into custody.

— This story was updated at 2:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 to include more information from RCMP.

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