Man spotted with gun in Ottawa turned out to have gun-shaped lighter

Ottawa Police respond to a call in Vanier on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Brad Quinn/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service says a brief call for a possible gun in Vanier turned out to be a lighter.

Officers were called to the area of Montreal Road and Montgomery Street at around 12:10 p.m. Tuesday on reports of a man with a firearm.

But the only “fire” in that item was meant for cigarettes.

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“Upon arrival, officers determined that the item was a lighter designed to resemble a firearm,” Ottawa police said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

Ultimately, no charges were laid.

“There was no threat to public safety,” police said.

Fake guns lead to real police calls

Imitation firearms designed to resemble real firearms have prompted several calls to police services in recent weeks.

In April, a lockdown was issued at the University of Ottawa for several hours for what turned out to be a man in possession of a toy cap gun. In that case, charges of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and mischief were laid.

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In Smiths Falls, police were called to local a high school after a student brought a pellet gun that resembled a real handgun to school.

A similar incident was reported in Bancroft last month, with a student being charged after a cap gun was found during a fire drill.

Ontario Provincial Police warned that any item resembling a weapon will be treated as real until it is proven otherwise.