Kelowna RCMP say three men are in custody following a major police incident on Tuesday morning.
According to police, officers rushed to the 800 block of Harvey Avenue following a report of a home invasion shortly after 5 a.m.
RCMP say three armed men broke into a multi-unit residence and assaulted two occupants, who sustained minor injuries.
“Throughout the investigation, officers learned the suspects had also broke into a second residence nearby,” RCMP said in a press release.
“Although there were occupants inside that residence, no one was injured.”
Kelowna RCMP said with the assistance of the Southeast District Emergency Response Team, the suspects were located.
Around a dozen police vehicles were on scene, which saw RCMP temporarily shut down a section of Harvey Avenue.
“Throughout the investigation, officers learned the suspects had also broke into a second residence nearby,” RCMP said in a press release.
“Although there were occupants inside that residence, no one was injured.”
Kelowna RCMP said with the assistance of the Southeast District Emergency Response Team, the suspects were located.
Around a dozen police vehicles were on scene, which saw RCMP temporarily shut down a section of Harvey Avenue.
“Three men and two women were arrested without incident,” said police. “The men are currently in police custody pending further investigation and the women have been released without charges at this time.”
“This was not a random incident and all parties are known to one another,” said Cpl. Tammy Lobb.
Prior to the arrests, police called for the suspects to exit with their hands up, which they did.
Witness Charlene McIntee told Global News that a man had entered three residences while brandishing a shotgun and demanding that they only buy drugs from him — and no one else.
McIntee said the incident began unfolding when two men stormed into her residence, making demands.
“It was bizarre,” she said.
The RCMP had asked the public to avoid the area of Richter Street and Harvey Avenue as they closed a couple of blocks to traffic.
They had also asked commuters to take alternate routes.