Ricky Ray, Argonauts arrive to practice amid nearby police incident

OTTAWA — The Toronto Argonauts had a dramatic welcome to practice on Wednesday.

The players were disembarking the team bus at the University of Ottawa while an incident involving police played out on the adjacent Highway 417.

“I stepped off the bus and I heard some loud bangs, and I was like ‘Should I be walking towards them, or getting back on the bus?’” said Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray. “As I came around the corner, I saw out on the road something happening out there, I’m not sure what happened, just kept walking and got inside.

“Interested to hear what was going.”

Several players said they heard what they believed were gunshots.

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Ottawa police said in a Tweet: “Police Operation on HWY 417 near Nicolas Rd. A vehicle has been stopped. No further details will be given at this time.”

The incident was a topic of conversation at the team’s practice ahead of Sunday’s Grey Cup against the Calgary Stampeders.

“It was crazy, coming right out of the bus, it was like six big bangs. Yeah, I seen it and heard it,” Argos running back James Wilder Jr. said.

When asked what he saw, Wilder said: “I seen justice being served.”

“Somebody’s in trouble,” said slotback S.J. Green.

Ray, who’s gunning for his fourth Cup title, said he “felt pretty safe, other than that first initial moment of wondering which way I should walk.”

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press