South Okanagan motel evacuated, Highway 97 closed for police standoff

PENTICTON – A man who said he had shotgun forced RCMP to evacuate and surround a motel south of Penticton on Highway 97 last night.

RCMP say were called to the Skaha Lake Lodge at about 10:30 p.m., Oct. 26, after a man called 911 to say he had shot himself, was armed with a shotgun and was prepared to shoot anyone who came into his motel room.

The motel was evacuated and Highway 97 closed in both directions as the RCMP emergency response team and police dogs surrounded the building. Crisis negotiators also arrived to speak with the man.

After six hours, a 25-year-old Kelowna man surrendered to police without incident, suffering from wounds not related to a gunshot, Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth said.

He says no firearms were located at the scene.  

The man was arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to Penticton Regional Hospital, Wrigglesworth says. No criminal charges are being contemplated at this time. 

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