Police worked for about six hours Thursday to convince a distressed man with a knife to come down from the roof of a two-storey building in Chemainus.

The incident began about 4 p.m. at the building, which has residences above commercial space. The man had been alone in a residence.

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North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP responded to the scene and got help from neighbouring detachments to contain the area while they dealt with the man. Crisis negotiators were also brought in, along with the RCMP Emergency Response Team.

“We were concerned for the safety of our members as well as this individual’s safety, safety of the public,” said Insp. Ray Carfantan, the officer in charge of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP. “It all ended very well.”

The man, in his early 30s, was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken for assessment.