(Photo: Nathan Ritchie)

Kamloops RCMP had to evacuate a Brocklehurst apartment building yesterday after responding to reports of an armed, distraught and barricaded man.

The incident happened at an apartment in the 1600-block of Tranquille Road.

Const. Crystal Evelyn says Mounties were called at 4:15 p.m. She says frontline officers tried to de-escalate the situation before calling in the Southeast District Emergency Response Team.

The building was evacuated as a precaution. Some time later, police used a less-lethal intervention, Evelyn says, and a man was taken into custody and taken to hospital under the Mental Health Act.

“This situation posed a risk to everyone involved, including the residents who were evacuated from the building,” Evelyn says. “Thanks to the response provided and the utilization of the less-lethal intervention option, the man was taken into custody with what appeared to be only minor injuries and no one else was hurt.”

Residents were able to return inside at about 7:30 p.m., after police cleared the scene.