Nanaimo RCMP officers apprehended a man under the Mental Health Act after a four-hour standoff in Cedar on Sunday.
Police were called to the 1700 block of Nairne Road around 11 a.m. on Feb. 25 to a rural home for an adult man experiencing a mental health crisis with access to firearms.
Two family members were able to leave the home, at which point police contained the home and escorted nearby residents from their homes.
A crisis negotiator made contact with the man in the house and around 3 p.m. was able to convince him to leave the house.
He walked out, had a brief struggle with officers, and was apprehended and brought to the Nanaimo hospital for a psychiatric assessment.
Seven long guns and ammunition were seized from the home, and police will make an application to have the firearms destroyed and to prohibit the man from possessing guns in the future.
No criminal charges are being considered.
“We recognize that some residents were displaced and others were inconvenienced for a period of time. Safety however is paramount for everyone involved, including our officers. Our sole objective was to resolve the situation peacefully,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Editor’s note: RCMP previously stated the road the incident occurred on was Cedar Road, then later clarified the it occurred on Nairne Road. The story has been updated to reflect this.
Laura Brougham
