RCMP quell standoff in Nunavut community

RCMP members in Arviat were able to resolve an incident involving a distraught man in a local residence the afternoon of May 13. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Police in Arviat were able to resolve a brief standoff involving a young man at a local home in the Kivalliq community May 13.

RCMP members were called to respond to a distraught male around 2:00 p.m. EST. Police say there was no indication of the weapon, but believed the man to be suicidal, RCMP said.

Police barricaded off the area around the home and communicated with a 22-year-old man from outside, using a loudspeaker, residents told Nunatsiaq News.

The lone male surrendered to local RCMP members about an hour later, at which point he was taken into custody.

Local police have yet to lay charges, the RCMP said.

Both Nunavut and the Nunavik region have faced a number of recent standoffs — all involving young men. That includes two major incidents in Iqaluit in the same week in April, one spanning three days.