A Whitehorse man has been arrested on a large number of charges, including some weapons-related offences.

“On July 29, members of the M Division RCMP Emergency Response Team, Whitehorse RCMP Detachment and General Investigative Section executed outstanding warrants for the arrest for 37-year-old Sidney Smarch of Whitehorse,” police said Wednesday afternoon.

Smarch was arrested without incident. He had outstanding charges of two counts of flight from a police officer, two counts of the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting/obstructing a police officer, possession of a loaded firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to an order and failing to comply with a release order.

“When Mr. Smarch was arrested, police observed firearms and a substance believed to be cocaine inside a travel trailer he was using,” police said.

“Police located five firearms in the travel trailer belonging to Smarch: two rifles, two handguns, one which was loaded, and a modified shotgun. Investigation is ongoing into the origin and ownership of these firearms; however, they are believed to be stolen.”

Smarch was subsequently charged with the following offenses:

• unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm;
• unauthorized possession of a non-restricted firearm;
• storage of a restricted firearm contrary to regulations;
• possession of a restricted firearm knowing it was unauthorized;
• possession of a non-restricted firearm knowing it was unauthorized;
• possession of a restricted firearm contrary to an order; and 
• failing to comply with the conditions of a release order.

Smarch was held in custody for a court appearance this past Tuesday. He was released on a court order with conditions. His next court date was today.

He currently has 31 Criminal Code charges before the courts.