A suspect has been taken into custody in east Richmond, following an hours-long stand-off after a “weapons call” came into RCMP.
The suspect, a 43-year-old man, was arrested in the 22600 block of Gilley Road in Hamilton, after police responded to a domestic disturbance in that area just after 5 p.m. Thursday.
“The initial report was that a distraught male inside the home was trashing the place during a violence outburst,” said RCMP in a release. The man was known to police and was also reported to be in possession of a firearm.
A woman was able to flee the residence before the lone male suspect barricaded himself inside.
RCMP said they then set up containment on the home. More than a dozen police vehicles, a SWAT team – the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team – and an ambulance were seen on Gilley Road at Westminster Highway.
Caner Altunas, a Hamilton resident, told the Richmond News a couple people in the neighbourhood claim to have spotted a man carrying firearms in the area and had called the police after feeling “threatened” at the sight.
Sounds of either “flash bangs” or gunshots were heard in the neighbourhood starting at 7 p.m., according to Facebook posts by Hamilton residents.
Police say several neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution. After a lengthy stand-off, the suspect was taken into custody “without incident” early Friday morning.
“In addition to negotiators, police used several tactics to ensure a positive conclusion to this situation,” said Richmond RCMP’s Cpl. Ian Henderson in a statement.
The suspect remains in custody, and police say they are continuing their investigation and residents should be allowed back into their homes “shortly.”
Meanwhile, traffic was allowed back on Gilley Friday morning after being closed for several hours, with the public told to avoid the area.
“This is an investigation in the very early stages, many witnesses are yet to be interviewed and out of respect for the criminal process, no further information will be available at this time,” said Henderson.
