A 43-year-old Comox Valley man is in police custody and faces a slew of potential criminal changes following an hours-long standoff in Cumberland, according to RCMP.
On Sunday at 7 a.m., Comox Valley RCMP were called to a home in the 2600-block of Rydal Avenue for a report of an assault.
“Upon arrival, a man at the residence indicated to police that he was in possession of weapons, possibly firearms, and refused to exit or surrender upon arrest,” RCMP said in a news release.
One Cumberland resident told CHEK News that the ordeal started “quite early” in the morning and said nearby neighbours were evacuated from their homes.
Police say Vancouver Island’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) and trained crisis negotiators were called to the scene and worked with the man “for several hours.”
The suspect eventually stepped out the front door and was arrested, prompting the ongoing police incident to come to a peaceful end, RCMP said.
“We would like to thank the residents of Cumberland for their patience and understanding as this situation unfolded, especially those directly impacted,” said Comox Valley RCMP spokesperson Const. Monika Terragni.
“We’d also like to thank the citizens who dropped off water and snacks for our officers at the scene,” Terragni added.
Looking ahead, Comox Valley RCMP urges the public to refrain from posting photos online of officers in similar situations as it could put the lives of those involved at risk.
CHEK News
