Vancouver – Vancouver Police have arrested a man wanted on a mental health warrant following a four-hour standoff on Kingsway last evening.
On November 11, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Vancouver Police received a report of a man walking along Kingsway near Miller Street threatening pedestrians. The caller reported that the man was carrying a large knife and was seen entering a nearby residential building.
Responding officers reviewed CCTV footage from the area, which confirmed the man’s identity and showed a large knife on his left hip as he returned to his suite. Police also determined that he was wanted on an outstanding mental health warrant.
Due to immediate safety concerns for both the man and the public, officers established grounds to arrest him for possession of a dangerous weapon and the outstanding warrant.
Over the next four hours, negotiators attempted to persuade the man to exit his suite peacefully. Shortly before 7 p.m., following tactical intervention by the Emergency Response Team, the man exited the suite and surrendered. He was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the hospital to be assessed under his mental health warrant.
“When someone armed with a weapon is in crisis, our top priority is always resolving the situation peacefully while keeping the surrounding community safe,” said Constable Darren Wong. “Our officers spent four hours working to bring this to a safe conclusion, and thanks to the coordinated efforts of our specialized units, we were able to take him into custody without anyone getting hurt so he could get the medical care he needs.”
