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Tactical officers descend on New Westminster retirement home – again

Police surrounded Lions Moody Park Tower Friday afternoon for a ‘male in apparent distress.’ Residents say the same thing happened a year ago.

For the second time in a year, a New Westminster retirement home was surrounded by police Friday as officers dealt with a resident in mental health crisis.

At least 20 police vehicles descended on the Lions Moody Park Tower at 525 Eight St. at about noon.

“Our officers responded to a 911 call of a male in apparent distress,” New Westminster Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Leaver told the Record. “Our officers responded, contained the area and evacuated the area of the building in question. In order to ensure the safety of the male in crisis and the other residents, a number of police resources were deployed.”

Tactical officers with the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, NWPD officers with carbine rifles, a dog team and a crisis negotiator could all be seen at the scene.

The man was taken into custody at about 4:30 p.m. after the second of two loud bangs rang out in the building.

He was taken from the scene in an ambulance.

“We were dealing with a male in crisis, so he will be referred to the necessary resources in order to help him on that front,” Leaver said.

Residents waited outside the front doors of the building as the incident unfolded.

Several told the Record the man had sparked a similar police response last year.

John, who didn’t want his last name published for safety reasons, said the man had cut the building’s Telus fibre-optic cable on Monday, wiping out internet, cable and phone services.

“They just completed rewiring, which took four days, and he cut everything again this morning,” John said.