RCMP Emergency Response Team officers surrounded a condominium building in Grandin Friday night after officers received reports that a resident was threatening to kill police.
Const. Janice Schoepp with the St. Albert RCMP said police became aware of the issue on Friday around 10:30 a.m. The report came from the social networking site Facebook, which passed along what they considered to be a concerning post to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI contacted a liaison officer they have in Vancouver, who then got in touch with the RCMP in Alberta. Through an investigation, local officers determined the posting had been made from a residence in St. Albert.
Schoepp said the threat did not specify local officers or a specific detachment, but was worrying enough that police believed there was a real danger.
Officers surrounded the condo about 9:45 p.m. and had determined both that the man they were looking for was in the apartment and that he was there alone.
Most of the detachment’s local resources were brought in as well as the emergency response team, dog unit and hostage negotiators who convinced the man to come out after about an hour of negotiations.
Schoepp said officers wanted to bring in the negotiators out of an abundance of caution for neighbouring residents.
“The negotiator was brought in because they wanted to ensure public safety.”
After the man was taken into custody, investigators searched his residence and seized several items. Schoepp said no weapons were seized.
James Houtstra, 32, has been charged with one count of uttering threats and will make his first court appearance on Jan. 30. Until at least then he will be held at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
