A 34-year-old male resident of Merritt has been taken into custody following a 45-minute standoff at the Prince Motel on Nicola Ave. on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Staff Sgt. Lorne Wood of the Merritt detachment said, “On Tuesday, February 4, 2020,
Merritt RCMP received information about a local male with several outstanding warrants possibly being in possession of a firearm. The investigation led officers to a location in the 2600 block of Nicola Ave where members contained a motel. After clearing out the other occupants of the hotel officers called out the suspect.
“After approximately 45 minutes the suspect exited the room and was taken into custody without incident. Merritt RCMP members will continue to maintain a presence at the location while a warrant is drafted to search for the alleged weapons.”
The suspect will be held on the strength of the outstanding arrest warrants and appeared in court Feb. 5. The next court date is yet to be determined.
Wood added, “The warrants were for several unrelated offences that are before the courts, including obstruction of justice, uttering threats, and assault with a weapon. Further charges may be pending based on the search of the room he was hiding in.
“As far as this incident it was simply some information that was received as to the whereabouts of the person which caused us to initiate an investigation.”
The suspect will be held on the strength of the outstanding arrest warrants and appeared in court Feb. 5. The next court date is yet to be determined.
