Police in Guelph have seized an assault-style rifle and loaded magazine after being called to a downtown apartment building Tuesday afternoon.

Officers received a call from a person saying a resident of the apartment building in the area of Wellington Street W. and Gordon Street was in possession of a firearm.

A man was arrested in the hallway of the building just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and officers located a bag outside the building which contained a Derya Arms .22-calibre rifle with a loaded extended magazine.

Police note the rifle is not restricted in Canada; however, the accused did not appear to have a licence for the gun and as it was in a bag, it was not being stored in a secure manner.

A 24-year-old Guelph man has been charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm. 

Police Chief Gord Cobey said in a release that the community may be feeling unnerved by the news given there has been “disturbing number of firearm-related offences in recent weeks.”

“This presents increased risks for our citizens and our members,” Cobey said.  “We continue to work diligently to identify and disrupt those involved in illegal activities to prevent further incidents and keep our neighbourhoods safe.”

Earlier this month, police closed John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph due to threats made against the school. A 64-year-old man and a 17-year-old female from Wellington County were arrested as part of that investigation and police said a firearm was seized by officers.