Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

POLICE PRESENCE

No further risk to public expected in relation to recent ERT call-outs in Kamloops

Oct 3, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — This week Kamloops was inundated with a larger than normal police presence, responding to three different high risk incidents in the span of one day.

Between Monday evening (Sept. 30) and Tuesday evening (Oct. 1), Kamloops RCMP, and the Southeast District Emergency Response Team were called out to a suspected weapons report near the Halston Bridge, an alleged assault in progress report in Knutsford, and a suspected weapons report along the Jamieson Creek Forest Service Road in the Westsyde area.

Despite the timing of it all, police say none of the incidents are related, and Mounties aren’t expecting these events to bring any further risk to the public. But the high-risk responses prompted a noticeable appearance from the Southeast District Emergency Response Team.

“I know it looks like a big presence, but that big presence contributes to the safety of everybody around,” notes Kamloops RCMP Cpl. Crystal Evelyn.

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The first weapons related report came in late Monday (Sept. 30) evening, followed by two other separate incidents the next day.

“One of those people was apprehended under the Mental Health Act on September 30, taken to hospital for further assessment and care,” explains Cpl. Evelyn, “And then the other two were the following day (Oct. 1) where we saw a presence in the Rose Hill Road area for the morning and part of the afternoon. Then at the same time as police officers were dealing with that, there was another incident that had actually begun the night before that they dealing with up on the (Jamieson Creek) Forest Service Road.”

Police don’t believe there’s any ongoing risk to the public related to these events, but the involvement of firearms did elevate their response at the time.

“Again, that ERT presence just helps contribute to safety in a sense that they’re there to help reduce the risk in light of the perceived increased risk present whenever a weapon could be involved in a response,” she reiterates.

High risk scenes, but Evelyn says they all ended in safe apprehension.

“Three people taken into custody as we mentioned. One person was apprehended under the Mental Health Act, but the other two people were held for bail hearings, and the investigations surrounding them is ongoing.”

Anyone with information about these investigations is asked to contact their local RCMP detachment.

Kamloops RCMP Detachment: 250-828-3000

Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Detachment: 250-314-1800