Police officers with guns drawn were seen in a Cambridge neighbourhood Friday morning.
The police action in an apartment on Winter Avenue, near Avenue Road and Elgin Street, began a little after 9 a.m., and continued for a couple of hours.
Police spent the time negotiating with a man in distress, who they were told might have a weapon.
“We received a call from a concerned citizen about an individual on Winter Avenue who was having some struggles and in crisis. As a result we responded with our strategic response unit, as well as a number of other officers including negotiators,” said Waterloo Regional Police Staff Sgt. Michael Haffner.
A number of schools in the area were placed under hold-and-secure, including Elgin Street Public School, Manchester Public School, Avenue Road Public School, Christ the King Catholic Elementary School and St. Peter Catholic Elementary School.
“Situations like this are very concerning and we want to make sure everybody’s safety is paramount, not only for the people we are responding to but the officers as well, as well as the people living in the apartment and in the surrounding areas,” said Haffner.
Around 11:30 a.m., the man whose actions sparked the police presence was taken out of the building and was given the support he needed from medical services. Police said the man was in his 60s.
The hold-and-secure situations were lifted after the man was taken into a police cruiser. There is no word if charges will be laid.
