By Jennifer Hoegg
jhoegg@kingscountynews.ca
NovaNewsNow.com
A 54-year-old man was taken into police custody after a 33-hour standoff on Hall Road ended peacefully, but has since been released.
Kings District RCMP were called to the home near Greenwood on Dec. 8 around 7:30 p.m. in response to an “emotionally disturbed” individual who had barricaded himself inside his home. Police said they believed he had firearms.
The force’s provincial Emergency Response Team and EHS paramedics were called to the scene as crisis intervention teams tried to negotiate with the man, who was alone in the house.
Const. Blair MacMurtery confirmed Monday the man had surrendered to police around 4:30 a.m. and was taken to
Valley Regional Hospital for assessment.
During the standoff, roadblocks were set up at Hall and Glebe roads and Hall and Palmer roads to keep people away from the scene.
A number of neighbours were evacuated, including Cheryl Johnstone, who lives on Hall Road.
Initially, Johnstone said the police provided her with little information. Then, on Dec. 9, two officers in riot gear showed up
at her door around 3 p.m., advising her to leave.
“They said they couldn’t guarantee we would be able to leave for work in the morning,” she said. “They didn’t want us to move after dark.”
She said she and her partner were told to stay away from their picture window and they were not allowed to drive past the driveway of the home where the standoff was underway.
Johnstone said the man, who she has never met in 10 years she has lived across the street, was peeking out the window of his home as she and her partner drove away.
“That was a little nerve-wracking.”
Roadblocks were removed and Hall Road residents were able to return home Monday morning.
MacMurtery said Dec. 11 the man has been released from custody and no charges have been laid.
