POLICE – Two taken to hospital after pair of mental health crises

Two people were taken to hospital yesterday (Wednesday, March 19, 2025) after two reports involving weapons and mental health crises.

Around 2:15 p.m., Kamloops RCMP were called to the 900-block of Singh Street for an armed youth who was barricaded in a residence and was experiencing a mental health crisis.

While officers were responding, a second report was received, this time involving an adult with a firearm on the 2000-block of Rosewood Avenue.

“A crisis negotiator and the Southeast District Emergency Response Team (ERT) were called to assist the frontline officers as they faced two high-risk situations simultaneously,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley.

“Fortunately, frontline officers were able to convince the man on Rosewood Avenue to safely surrender without issue, just before 5 p.m. Multiple firearms were seized from the residence soon after.”

The man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to hospital for medical assessment and care. Officers cleared the area shortly after.

Over on Singh Street, a police presence continued until about 7:30 p.m., when, with the assistance of the SED ERT, officers entered a residence and apprehended the youth under the Mental Health Act. The youth was transported to hospital by ambulance with minimal injuries.

“The two events quickly unfolded and involved the presence of weapons,” said Pelley.

“With the assistance of our district and community partners, our officers were able to ensure that both people were taken to hospital to receive the support required to help them through their crisis.”

While a police presence was highly visible for the two reports involving weapons, RCMP also responded to a third occurrence around 4 p.m. at McDonald Park, unrelated to the first two. Another youth was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital.