UPDATE: Police use “less lethal rounds” to end standoff in Kelowna commercial building

KELOWNA – Emergency response team members used "less lethal rounds and a police service dog" to end a standoff eariler this afternoon between a Kelowna RCMP and a man who was injured and taken to hospital after the incident.

Police were called around 9:30 a.m. to the 300 block of Adams Road after reports of a disturbance, Kelowna RCMP media officer Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said in an updated press release.

"Police were told that the suspect, who was observed covered in blood, became involved in an altercation with a civilian after he was found damaging the inside of a motor vehicle. The suspect allegedly became aggressive towards the civilian, who was forced to retreat and was uninjured," O' Donaghey said.

“At approximately 11:30 a.m., tactically trained members of the South East District Emergency Response Team breached the front door of the commercial unit in an attempt to establish direct communication with the male,” O’Donaghey added. “When the male refused to respond or follow police directions, the ERT members utilized less lethal rounds and a Police Service Dog. As a result, the male was taken into police custody without further incident.”

A neighbour living in a fifth wheel across the street from the Space Centre on Adams Road said he heard the commotion as police responded and a short time later saw a man being placed into an ambulance.

"They had their guns drawn, that's all I know and I saw a guy being taken away," the man said.

A door in front of the Space Centre building was smashed as was the side window of a truck sitting in front of the building. Several pails of tar lay on their side beside the truck which also had dents in its side.

Around noon today, police began clearing out of the Adams Road Industrial area after dealing with a disturbance involving a "distraught male” who has barricaded himself in a commercial building.

RCMP surrounded the building and called in the southeast district emergency response team, the canine unit and crisis negotiators, O’Donaghey said.

Temporary road closures along Adams Road between Edwards Road and Sexsmith Road have been lifted.

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