RCMP arrest 29-year-old who barricaded himself inside a Denny’s in Kamloops

A standoff that saw a man barricade himself inside a Denny’s in Kamloops has ended with the arrest of a 29-year-old who was previously known to police.

RCMP said the events began to unfold on Thursday at 4 a.m. when a man made a threat inside the restaurant on Columbia Avenue, police said in a news release.

Customers and staff left the restaurant and the man was left alone inside.

Police said the man threatened a staff member after he received his bill.

“When police attended the restaurant, the suspect closed all of the blinds to the restaurant.  At one point the male did exit one of the restaurant doors, he was brandishing a knife.  When confronted with officers, the suspect went back into the restaurant,” they said.

The natural gas to the building was shut off as a precaution.

Members of the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) arrested the man after they entered the restaurant at 2:45 p.m.

The area surrounding Denny’s is expected to remain closed to drivers and pedestrians as police secure the building.