CTV Vancouver
A tense seven-hour standoff outside an East Vancouver home ended after police went inside and didn’t find the person they were looking for.
Police surrounded the home on Joyce Street near Kingsway around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, with the tactical unit finally entering the home about 10 p.m.
There were early reports of shots fired in the area of Kingsway and Joyce Street, but Const. Brian Montague said that officers were using non-lethal weapons.
“The reported ‘shots’ are officers using flashbangs and knocking on the door using an ARWEN,” Montague said in a statement.
An ARWEN, or Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield, is a launcher that is typically used to fire foam or wooden rounds.
Police used flashbangs in an effort to get a man believed to be in the home to come outside. Police also used a loudspeaker to call for anyone inside the home to come out.
Traffic was blocked in the area and residents were kept away while heavily armed officers stormed the property.
It’s still unclear why the Vancouver Police Department was looking for the man believed to be in the home.
Police issued a short statement saying they are still looking for that person, but they’re not saying why. They also haven’t said why the search required such a large police presence.
“The investigation is ongoing and police continue to search for the suspect,” the statement read.
However, Const. Brian Montague said that there was nothing to suggest that members of the public are at risk.
