On April 23, at about 7 p.m., Portage la Prairie RCMP received a report of a 17-year-old male youth, who was at a residence on 5th Avenue NE, who may have been in breach of a court order and possibly in possession of bear mace and a small firearm.

Media Relations Officer Sergeant Paul Manaigre says officers attended the residence and conducted a search where they located the youth in a basement bedroom. A further search of the bedroom located an altered loaded firearm in the closet.

He adds that the youth, who has numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest, remains in police custody.

Portage la Prairie RCMP continue to investigate.