Police incident in Deep Cove triggered by reports of distraught man with gun

Police are seen in North Vancouver's Deep Cove neighbourhood on Saturday, Feb. 15. (Courtesy: u/deepcovebc/Reddit)

A tense police incident that unfolded in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove neighbourhood over the weekend was triggered by reports of a distraught man with a gun, authorities revealed Monday.

An emergency response team descended on the area of Eastridge and Lockehaven roads Saturday afternoon, prompting a warning for area residents to keep indoors.

Officers took one person into custody around 5 p.m., approximately 3.5 hours after the incident began.

Few details were initially shared with the public, but North Vancouver RCMP has since confirmed authorities were responding to reports of an armed man inside a vehicle somewhere in the quiet neighbourhood.

Crisis negotiators were also dispatched to assist “due to the mental state of the individual,” who was ultimately arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital, the detachment wrote in a news release.

Const. Mansoor Sahak told CTV News officers also recovered a gun from the scene.

“This incident required a highly co-ordinated response due to the potential risk to public safety,” said Sahak, in a statement.

“Thanks to their expertise and the support of the specialized units, police were able to bring this situation to a peaceful conclusion, ensuring the safety of the individual involved and the community.”