Police charge Iqaluit man in connection with long-weekend standoff

Iqaluit police have charged Moses Kilabuk, 48, in connection with a standoff in the 500s area of the city on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Kilabuk, who is from Iqaluit, was charged with “several firearms-related offences,” including unsafe storage of firearms, a press release said.

Earlier that day, police had been diverting traffic away from the area, where an armed person had been barricaded inside a house since early that morning.

The RCMP critical response team arrived at the scene and began negotiation with the armed person, police said in a release issued just before 8 a.m. that day.

The standoff was resolved at around 1:30 p.m.

Police also seized multiple firearms from the residence that were not properly stored, the release said.

“There remains to be a significant concern around the safe handling and storage of firearms in our communities across Nunavut. We are all responsible to ensure firearms and ammunition are secured and properly stored. Let’s all do our part and help keep Nunavummiut safe,” said Cpl. Jamie Savikataaq.

Kilabuk appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was released on a recognizance, the release said.

His next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 23, 2019, in Iqaluit.