Police in Vancouver say a man armed with a knife and wanted on an outstanding mental health warrant was arrested Wednesday following a four-hour standoff. Officers were called to the area of Kingsway and Miller Street at approximately 1:20 p.m. after a witness reported the man was threatening pedestrians while carrying a large knife, the Vancouver Police Department said in a news release Thursday. Responding officers reviewed surveillance video from the area, which confirmed the man’s identity and showed a large knife attached to his left hip as he entered his residential building, the statement said. Officers determined they had grounds to arrest the man for possession of a dangerous weapon and the outstanding warrant, citing safety concerns for both the man and the public. Over the next four hours, police negotiators tried to persuade the man to exit his suite but were unsuccessful. Members of the heavily armed emergency response team intervened and the man surrendered, according to the release. The suspect was arrested and transported to hospital for assessment. “When someone armed with a weapon is in crisis, our top priority is always resolving the situation peacefully while keeping the surrounding community safe,” Const. Darren Wong said in a statement. “Our officers spent four hours working to bring this to a safe conclusion, and thanks to the coordinated efforts of our specialized units, we were able to take him into custody without anyone getting hurt so he could get the medical care he needs.”
