Police in Kelowna, B.C., came up with a unique way to deal with a noisy neighbour -- he wouldn't turn down the volume, so the RCMP turned up the heat.
Residents in the otherwise quiet Kelowna neighbourhood where Dean D'Archangelo lives told CTV News that D'Archangelo was fond of leaving his windows and doors open with the stereo blaring.
There were numerous complaints, according to Const. Steve Holmes.
"We've issued by-law tickets several times," he told CTV News.
When the complaints continued, police took a very unusual step -- they got a court order, and grabbed the stereo and its numerous speakers and amplifiers.
"Clearly you've got speakers that are capable of producing quite a voluminous amount of noise," Holmes said.
It was an extreme response, and one Holmes said he couldn't recall a precedent for.
"At least for a temporary time, that will put a complete stop to the noise," he said.
D'Archangelo's neighbours seemed happy with the police response.
"I fully agree with it," one man told CTV News. "Great stuff."
D'Archangelo is now charged with criminal mischief, and for the time being, he has no stereo to play.
He told CTV News he wants to fight the police on this.
"I'm a private citizen, and I know my rights," he said.
But he'll have to move quickly if he wants his stereo equipment back -- the police are now applying for a warrant to destroy it all.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat
