Police charge male with weapons offences; seize dozens of firearms

Lethbridge have charged a 59-year-old male with multiple weapons offences, after nearly three dozen firearms were seized from a west side home. 

On June 3, a Lethbridge man was arrested for criminal harassment in connection with an investigation that originated in B.C. Saanich Police initially responded to a report that a female had received almost 60 concerning messages and videos depicting an individual with numerous firearms causing her to fear for her safety. It was determined the male resided in Lethbridge and had previously agreed to purchase a firearm from the woman but when payment wasn’t made, the sale fell though. The male then began sending the disturbing messages.

Following the male’s arrest, a search warrant was executed at a home along Canyon Boulevard and police seized a total of 34 firearms, including multiple weapons that were not lawfully possessed or stored. 

Daniel Hazen Stebbins, 59, of Lethbridge, is charged with seven counts of unsafe storage of a firearm, three counts each of unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm, unlawful possession of a prohibited device, and one count each of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and criminal harassment. 

Stebbins is currently in custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release hearing.