ESTEVAN - The Estevan Police Service has announced two charges of assault against a 62-year-old Estevan man, as a result of the investigation into an armed standoff that occurred in February.
On Feb. 8, after nine hours of negotiations, the Estevan resident surrendered and was arrested without anyone getting hurt. The man was then transported to a Regina hospital for an assessment, as the EPS stated he was in mental distress and needed help.
At that time, no decision was made as to if any charges would be laid in this case.
On March 8, the EPS announced they laid two charges following the incident that had the entire community watching the scene with bated breath.
Estevan Police Chief Richard Lowen explained that "Charges are based on evidence obtained, statements of witnesses and complaints. In this case, the charges were appropriate to the evidence obtained (as) in this incident, police were called to attend in regard to the report of an assault."
He added that over the past month a number of steps were taken in regard to the incident, but the main part of the process was the medical assessment.
"Medical assessment is the priority before any charges are processed. The charges were sworn to and warrants obtained during this assessment time. Once assessments were completed, the accused attended to the EPS station to be formally charged on the strength of the arrest warrants," Lowen said.
He added that all situations are reviewed to determine the appropriate charge(s) based on the evidence, statements and observations. No further evidence were discovered during the past month, and no other charges are pending.
Lowen added that he is "grateful that the incident was concluded safely."
On Feb. 8 in the morning, police had been called to a domestic disturbance. Another person left the building, and the subject barricaded himself in his residence in 600-block of Fourth Street.
The Estevan and the Weyburn Police Service's joint tactical support team, as well as crisis negotiators from the EPS and RCMP, were on the scene. Police were seen with their weapons drawn.
At one point, the EPS delivered a letter to the residence, which was written by the individual's brother.
The nine-hour armed standoff ended peacefully.
After appearing in court, the subject was released on a number of conditions and will appear in court again in April.
