WATCH ABOVE: Global’s Vassy Kapelos reports from the Ottawa hotel where guests were evacuated before a suspect was arrested.
TORONTO – Ottawa Police say no hazardous materials were found but one man remains in custody following a “possible threat” at an east-end hotel Wednesday. Local police said there are no further concerns for public safety; the investigation is now being led by the RCMP in Nova Scotia.
The Chimo Hotel was evacuated early Wednesday as a precaution as police investigated what they called a “possible threat.”
Police responded to the hotel around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday.
The hazardous materials team (HAZMAT), and the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive team (CBRNE) were dispatched to the scene to investigate a “threat made by a suspicious male,” police said.
Officers said the man came out of a room on the sixth floor of the hotel and was arrested without incident.
Police sources identified the man to Global News as Christopher Phillips.
Police said the suspect was a registered guest at the hotel.
Phillips was briefly married to Shannon Miller, a former Olympic gymnast for the U.S., her agent confirmed.
“Upon hearing the recent news surrounding Christopher Phillips, my prayers immediately go to the safety of those around him,” Miller said in a statement. “I’m thankful that the brave men and women of the Ottawa police department and other law enforcement agencies were able to apprehend him and diffuse the situation without incident.”
The evacuation of the hotel came a day after 20 homes were evacuated in Cole Harbour, N.S., about 16 km outside of Halifax. Suspicious packages containing hazardous chemicals were found in homes in two separate neighbourhoods.
RCMP in Halifax alerted police in Ottawa about the hazardous chemical situation in Cole Harbour early Wednesday.
Ottawa Police couldn’t elaborate on the specifics on the information investigators received.
However, RCMP confirmed the Ottawa hotel evacuation was connected to the two incidents outside of Halifax.
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Police said there’s no information suggesting there was a threat to national security or that the situation is terrorism related.
Investigators said the suspect is being held on a Canada-wide warrant, relating to charges in Nova Scotia.
Phillips’ vehicle was located in the parking lot at the hotel in Ottawa and was also searched.
RCMP in Halifax have not released any information on the type of hazardous materials that were found other than it wasn’t explosive material.
RCMP say homes located on Old Dyke Road in Grand Desert remain under the evacuation order and there’s no word how long the evacuation order is expected to continue.
During an afternoon press conference, RCMP Cpl. Greg Church wouldn’t say what chemicals were identified during the property searches other than a “large quantity” of volatile chemicals were found.
RCMP have requested the assistance of CMP Explosives Disposal Unit, Halifax Regional Police Forensics Identification Section, HAZMAT and Emergency Health Services to further investigate the scene.
Investigators from Nova Scotia are en-route to Ottawa to interview the 42-year-old Cole Harbour resident, who has yet to be formally charged.
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