A section of the Trans Canada Highway was closed yesterday after reports of a man pointing a gun a passing vehicles.

Mounties from both the Sicamous and Salmon Arm detachments as well as the Emergency Response Team were called out at 2:50 p.m. after a passer-by called 911, saying she believed a man with a rifle pointed it at her as she drove by.

“A man matching the suspect’s description was located within the containment area and arrested without incident,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, a spokesperson for the RCMP Southeast District. “The man, who police determined had been hitch hiking, was not in possession of any firearms upon his arrest.”

“However, further investigation revealed that he had been holding up a metal pipe, which officers believe could have been easily mistaken by a passing motorist as resembling the barrel of a firearm.”

The highway was closed for about 40 minutes.