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THE 44-year-old man involved in a standoff with police in Eden on Thursday, January 7 has been arrested and taken to hospital for assessment.
Officers from the Far South Coast Local Area Command as well as specialist police were called to a house on Mitchell St, Eden just after 12pm on the day, as Detective Sergeant Justin Marks from Bega said they were concerned about the man’s welfare.
When police arrived the man had barricaded himself inside the house with his parents.
However, the man’s parents left the house of their own volition by 3pm and the man himself was escorted outside about 5pm accompanied by a number of police officers including those in flak jackets and helmets.
He was taken to Bega District Hospital for a mental health assessment and a police spokesperson said if charges were to be laid on the man it could take days as he was being assessed.
No injuries were reported for anyone involved.
“There were a few people shaken up, but at the end of the day everyone was fine,” Det Sgt Marks said.
“There were a few people shaken up, but at the end of the day everyone was fine."
- Justin Marks
According to local residents, the man lived with his parents and they had moved into the house about a year ago.
There had been reports the man had an axe, but Det Sgt Marks said while some axes were at the house none were used as a weapon to threaten the inhabitants or police.
During the standoff numerous police and other emergency service vehicles were present in the street and there were also officers wearing camouflage in attendance.
When the news broke on the Bega District News’ Facebook page, there was some concern among readers about the police’s large-scale response to the situation.
However, Det Sgt Marks said significant risk assessments are conducted for operations such as this and when entering an unknown situation the main role of the police is to protect people’s lives and property.
“In our experience the response was not overkill,” he said.
“We treat any situation seriously where someone could be attempting to harm themselves or others.
“The role of the police in these situations is to try and bring to a peaceful resolution in a timely fashion, hopefully with no loss of life or property.”