UPDATE: Nanaimo RCMP say police continued to monitor the residence and the man returned later in the evening, at which time he was arrested without incident. Numerous firearms were seized and the man will undergo a psychological evaluation.
UPDATE: It turned out that an individual thought to have locked himself inside a Chase River home was not found there, but police say the public is not at risk and lockdowns in the area have been lifted.
Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, said emergency response team members entered the Cranberry Road residence and did not locate the person inside.
RCMP are still looking for that person, but are not asking for the public’s assistance at this time.
“It’s not an active investigation, but we certainly would like to make contact with that person,” O’Brien said.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: A daycare centre in Chase River is in lockdown as a man in a nearby residence has locked himself in and may have firearms.
Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, said a person is having a mental health crisis in the Cranberry Road area and there is a risk to himself and potentially the public. The man is known to police, leading to concern that there may be firearms in the residence.
“We have that home secured,” O’Brien told the News Bulletin. “We are fully aware [BGC Central Vancouver Island] is directly across the street from the home. We have that in a lockdown capacity, as well as the Cranberry firehall, which is directly beside the residence also.”
He said the RCMP’s emergency response team is on scene and no traffic is being allowed in and around the area. An RCMP helicopter is also there. A negotiator in en route, police said. The man is believed to be the lone person in the residence.
“There’s no understanding on my part that there’s anybody else in the house besides that adult man,” O’Brien said.
story continues below
@NanaimoBulletin pic.twitter.com/4K50PQ5XEN
— Chris Bush (@ChrisBushphotog) September 6, 2023
As the situation is emerging, police ask people avoid the area.
“No lookie-loos please,” said O’Brien. “This is not the time, and when it’s resolved we’ll let [people] know.”
Cranberry Road is closed at the intersection with the Trans-Canada Highway and highway traffic is moving slowly.
An RCMP heli is on scene at Cranberry Road as RCMP are dealing with a situation with an individual in crisis who may have access to a gun… https://t.co/J0IfGCtxgm#Nanaimo #News pic.twitter.com/CHhFnePOc9
— Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin) September 6, 2023
READ ALSO: RCMP close north Nanaimo street due to individual in crisis
#ServiceAlert Due to a police incident, Route 7 buses will not be servicing past South Gate Plaza at this time.@RDNanaimo @cityofnanaimo pic.twitter.com/LJsnnMBsgs
— RDN_Transit (@RDN_Transit) September 5, 2023
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