2 face weapons charges after incident that forced evacuation of 2 blocks around Whitehorse non-profit
Police say women were arrested in Blood Ties Four Directions building, replica firearm recovered
RCMP in Whitehorse say they have arrested two women and recovered a replica firearm after an incident at the Blood Ties Four Directions building Wednesday night.
The incident in question forced the evacuation of the building as well as homes and businesses within a two-block radius around it.
Chief Supt. Lindsay Ellis, the commanding officer of Yukon M Division, said the arrest happened just after 11 p.m. and the investigation continues.
Speaking to CBC Thursday morning, Ellis said police seized a firearm as well. Later in the day, Blood Ties Four Directions executive director Jill Aalhus said police informed them it was in fact a replica firearm that was seized.
In a news release later on Thursday, RCMP said that they responded on Wednesday evening after receiving initial reports that a woman had entered the facility with a gun and was pointing it at people inside.
Police said an emergency response team, police dog services and a crisis negotiation team then went to the area and tried to communicate with the woman inside, but received no response.
Police eventually confirmed there were two people inside the building along with a firearm. Officers managed to enter the building to find two women "who remained uncooperative," the release states.
The women were then arrested with help from police dog services and police recovered a replica firearm.
The two women, aged 53 and 23, are each charged with pointing a firearm, carrying an imitation firearm for the purposes of committing an offence and uttering threats.
Blood Ties Four Directions is a Whitehorse-based non-profit organization that runs a supervised consumption site in the city. In a Facebook post Wednesday night, the organization described the situation as a "serious safety incident". It wrote that no one was injured and the incident "was safely resolved with the support of emergency responders".
It also said there has been inaccurate information circulating online about the incident.
"In situations like this, it's especially important to rely on accurate information rather than rumours, which can cause unnecessary fear and confusion," the organization wrote.
After the incident resolved, it said it was hoping to be able to resume offering services "as quickly as possible."