Days after Huron OPP completely closed a long stretch of Main Street in Exeter, Ont., and even evacuated a portion of the roadway, police are now providing information about the investigation at the centre of the disruption.
On Monday, police confirmed that OPP, including the tactics and rescue unit, crisis negotiators and emergency response team, were called to an apartment on Main Street South for a report of a possible hostage situation.
Main Street South was closed from Huron Street to Wellington Street from roughly 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and the stretch from Sanders Street to Anne Street was evacuated from roughly 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. One block of John Street was also closed for the investigation.
At that time, police provided no further details about why they had deemed road closures and an evacuation necessary, nor did they shed any light on the nature of the investigation. However, police confirmed to Global News that there were “no public safety concerns at this time.”
Just before 9:30 a.m. Monday, police issued an update explaining that the heavy police presence was due to a possible hostage situation, but that “the situation was unfounded, no charges have been laid and all resources have cleared.”
Last Thursday, police said they were on John Street for an undisclosed investigation in the same area and that a search warrant had been executed and one person was arrested “without incident.” In an email, Const. Jeff Hare said the incidents are not “directly connected” but they did occur at the same address.