A police incident at a Watson Road townhouse complex that played out over several hours Monday night had area residents running to social media to find out what was happening.
The RCMP focus was on a suspect who was refusing to come out of a complex called Watson Willows across the street from Watson elementary school.
Eventually a 33-year-old Chilliwack man was arrested and remanded into police custody, according to the RCMP file.
Just before 3 p.m. on Nov. 16, Chilliwack RCMP had received report of threats and messages posted on social media against two people.
“Investigators gathered evidence linking a suspect and firearms to an address in the 45000-block of Watson Road,” said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Mike Rail of the UFVRD.
Front-line officers cordoned off the street in front of the complex between Wilkins Drive and the school, and were attempting to communicate with the suspect and urging him to come out safely and without incident.
Emergency response team officers arrived before 10 p.m. in an armoured truck, and set up a drone to fly inside the home.
A search warrant issued after 11 p.m.
Neighbours reported hearing more than one flashbang during the incident that was loud enough to rattle windows, and an officer’s voice booming over the loudspeaker.
Several reported that tear gas was released into one of the townhouses, where a woman and her adult son were that night.
At one point a woman walked out alone, and police took one man into custody. He had a court appearance slated for Nov. 17.
No one was injured in the incident, police said.
READ MORE: Man arrested walking down the street with a gun
READ MORE: Fire at Watson elementary
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