A 34-year-old Merritt man was taken into custody after a brief stand off at a motel in that community.

Merritt RCMP say they were called to reports that a man with several outstanding warrants who may have had a gun with him. Police say they were able to trace the man to a motel in the 2600-block of Nicola Avenue.

“After clearing out occupants of the other rooms, officers called the suspect out of his room,” said Staff Sgt. Lorne Wood. “After about 45 minutes, the man left his room and was arrested without incident.”

Wood says officers will stay at the motel awaiting a search warrant to see if they can find a weapon. He says the unnamed man may face charges based on what police find in his room.

“[The man] will be held in custody on the strength of the outstanding arrest warrants,” Wood noted, saying he has a court date in Merritt tomorrow, Feb. 6.