Man in custody after police safely resolve negotiation near Disraeli Bridge

Winnipeg police say a man who was believed to be armed has been safely taken into custody after an incident that shut down the Disraeli Bridge in the city's Point Douglas neighbourhood on Saturday.

Const. Dani McKinnon said the nearly 10-hour standoff, which began at 5:30 a.m. local time, was one of the force's longer negotiations with an individual.

No one was injured, McKinnon said.

"It's a great success for the community, for the individual in distress, as well as the police," she said.

Police were called to Grove Street off Euclide Avenue after reports of gunshots around 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

The armed man, who is known to police, then moved from Grove Street to the Disraeli Bridge area.

Police shut down the area and bridge.

The heavy police presence included a tactical armoured vehicle and at least a dozen other police vehicles, with several officers on the scene.

Just after 3:30 p.m. local time, police said in a post on X that the situation was resolved and the public was no longer at risk.

The pedestrian foot bridge and riverway have reopened, and vehicular traffic has resumed on the bridge.

However, the Sutherland off-ramps remain closed, police said at 3:30 p.m.

McKinnon said incidents like this don't happen very often.

Additional details will be released

More details will be made available as police continue to investigate, McKinnon said.

Officials are now working to find out more about the factors that led up to the incident and why it happened.

She said many community members showed up for a press conference Saturday afternoon, where she gave an update on negotiation efforts and warned people to stay clear of the area.

"We just want to thank everybody for their co-operation and their understanding and their patience because it's not always easy," McKinnon said.

McKinnon said incidents like this don't happen very often.