UPDATE: 9:20 a.m.
Lake Country RCMP has stated that a several-hour-long police standoff that closed Highway 97 for several hours ended peacefully last night.
Around 5:45 p.m., police officers responded to a report of a distraught male along Roberts Road after receiving a report from a known associate of the man.
An RCMP release states the man was found armed in a nearby wooded area, causing police officers to shut down the street and evacuate homes close by.
Members from the Crisis Negotiation Team were brought in to speak with the distraught male and the duration of the incident was approximately four hours, at which point the male surrendered to police and was safely taken into custody.
Currently, the man is not being charged with any criminal offences.
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UPDATE: 10:45 p.m.
Highway 97 has reopened after a several-hour-long closure due to a police incident in the area.
#BCHwy97 is open in #LakeCountry from previous vehicle incident. #Kelowna #VernonBC
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) November 22, 2019
There is no indication as to what caused the armed RCMP response to the area near the Airport Inn.
RCMP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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A police incident unfolding in Lake Country has caused the closure of Highway 97 between Robinson and Oceola road.
CLOSED #BCHwy97 between Woodsdale Rd & Oceola Rd in #LakeCountryBC (Approx 5 km north of #Kelowna) due to a police incident. There is no estimated time of opening. Assessments are in progress. For further details see here: https://t.co/oxMVmyiZdk
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) November 22, 2019
Residents in a Lake Country Rant and Rave Facebook group claim the incident is occurring near Airport Inn just off Highway 97.
One member of the group alleges armed officers are telling residents in the area to stay inside their homes and others report they’ve been evacuated from their homes.
DriveBC has no estimate time of when the road will reopen and there is no detour.
More to come.
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