Police seized two loaded handguns in this community during the past week.

The first was confiscated from a 45-year-old Pitt Meadows man last Wednesday, Feb. 1, said RCMP Sgt. Dale Somerville.

The Lower Mainland's integrated gang taskforce, assisted by Ridge Meadows RCMP, arrested the man with a gun in his possession. A check then revealed this man was currently under a court-ordered prohibition from possessing firearms.

Another gun was uncovered Friday, when police arrested a "well-known" 29-year-old man.

"The man was a passenger in a car that police stopped in downtown Maple Ridge. A search of the man's purse located a loaded gun, and the man was arrested," Somerville said.

The suspect was held in custody over the weekend, expected to appear in court Monday.

TALKING MOTORIST NAILED

A Surrey motorist faces a series of new charges after being pulled over in Maple Ridge Friday afternoon.

A 49-year-old man was found allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol when a motorcycle officer spotted him talking on his cellphone in the 20700 block of Lougheed Highway at about 3: 30 p.m.

"When the man was unable to produce his driver's licence, the officer found out his driving privileges were prohibited," Somerville said.

"It was also learned that the man was released by the courts on similar charges with conditions that he not drive or be in the driver's seat."

He was given a roadside blood alcohol, which registered high, and would normally have earned him a 72-hour driving prohibition. But since he was already restricted from driving, pulling his licence wasn't possible. The car, however, was impounded for a week.

Police are also recommending charges of failing to obey conditions of his recognizance and driving while prohibited.

HIGHWAY SHUT BY FIRE

Rush hour was snarled in Maple Ridge Friday evening.

A power pole burst into flames just before 5 p.m. in front of the Quality Inn on Lougheed Highway just east of 216th Street.

Firefighters on scene were unsure of the cause. BC Hydro was called and power to parts of downtown Maple Ridge was cut while the pole continued to burn.

Police and firefighters had to block the highway between 216th and 222nd Streets, and let the pole burn, fearful any attempts to extinguish the blaze could put fire crews in jeopardy from potentially live wires falling.

MAN STRUCK ON HIGHWAY

A 54-year-old man was struck by a car when he attempted to cross a dimly lit road outside of a crosswalk, according to Ridge Meadows RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.

The incident occurred around 7: 30 p.m., Feb. 1, in the 21700 block of the Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.

Paramedics took the man to hospital by ambulance with what was felt to be non-life threatening injuries, said Dunlop.

The 37-year-old Burnaby man, who was driving a Nissan, was not physically hurt, but was badly shaken by the incident. The investigation continues.

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