RCMP say they have arrested one man following a police operation outside a residential building on Gitzel Street.
In a press release around 5:30pm on Friday, police said they had responded to a report of a man posing a threat at the temporary day shelter on 49 Street at approximately 1:30pm.
RCMP alleged that the man had made threats with what appeared to be a firearm after being denied food service at the shelter.
Police said the suspect, whose name was not released, then moved to a residential building on Gitzel Street.
Multiple RCMP units responded including the police dog service, traffic services, the emergency response team and members of the crisis negotiation team. Yellowknife municipal officers helped to block off a section of Gitzel Street.
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RCMP said the suspect was safely taken into custody and that charges are pending.
In an earlier press release, issued around 2:40pm, RCMP said multiple police units were responding to an “unfolding incident” on Gitzel Street. Police advised residents and bystanders to avoid the area “out of an abundance of caution” until the matter was resolved.
Yellowknife municipal enforcement officers were seen starting to block off the entrance to Gitzel Street from Franklin Avenue around 3pm as multiple RCMP vehicles were parked in the vicinity of the Fort Gary Apartments.
CBC and NNSL reported around 4pm that RCMP said they had arrested one person who had been armed.
Shortly before 5pm, Cabin Radio observed four marked and three unmarked police vehicles on scene.
Sarah Pruys contributed reporting.
