Kamloops RCMP close Halston Bridge after report of hostage situation

RCMP closed the Halston Bridge in Kamloops and evacuated some nearby homes last night after a report of a hostage situation, that turned out to be unfounded.

At 7 p.m. on April 21, the Kamloops Rural RCMP responded to the 1200-block of Kootenay Way after receiving a call about a hostage situation, according to an RCMP media release. Police closed the Halston Bridge based on the information they received and "out of an abundance of caution."

The incident occurred on the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc reserve. Some homes in the immediate area were evacuated and the police called upon the Southeast District Emergency Response Team to assist.

As the police continued to investigate, they found the claims to be unfounded.

“In all situations, the RCMP must take the appropriate steps to ensure public safety,” says Cpl. Jodi Shelkie with the Kamloops RCMP in the release. “In this case, the police report was unfounded.”

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casmir says band members who were impacted by the event can access resources through Tk'emlups Community Services and the First Nation Health Authority.

"We are all in this together. We know that fears are heightened. We are doing our best when it comes to the communication with membership in the community at large," Casmir says in a media release. "We would like to thank the RCMP for their immediate response to ensure that the situation was safely concluded and our essential health resource members who are assisting to ensure that there are available resources for outreach." 

— This article was updated at 3:02 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, to add information new information from Tk'emmlups te Secwepemc Chief.

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