It took five hours of negotiation to defuse a dangerous situation at a residence in the 600 block of 102nd Street Sunday.
Battlefords RCMP say they were notified at about 4 p.m. of an intoxicated man threatening to harm himself with a firearm. According to RCMP, the man was extremely agitated, threatening to take another occupant of the residence hostage and harm police and ambulance personnel if they attended.
RCMP officers from the Battlefords Detachment, Battlefords Provincial GIS assisted by the "F" Division Containment Team and Police Dog Services formed a secure perimeter around the residence to ensure the safety of all residents in the neighbourhood.
RCMP negotiated with the man and the incident drew to a successful close just before 9 p.m. as the man surrendered to the officers on the scene without incident.
Rene Armstrong, 39, of North Battleford was arrested and charged with a long list of offences. These include possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order, using a firearm in the commission of offence, careless use of firearm; possession of prohibited firearm with ammunition; and assaulting peace officers with a weapon.
Armstrong appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court Tuesday and Wednesday. He remains in custody and will appear again April 9.
