The Winnipeg Police Service used its armoured rescue vehicle and tactical officers to carry out a Christmas Day search after a report of an assault in Winnipeg's North End.

Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the entire block of Redwood Avenue between Salter Street and Aikins Street was blocked off for an operation involving more than a dozen officers and 14 vehicles.

Police initially showed up at a home on Redwood around 10:30 a.m. in response to a report of an assault that took place elsewhere, Const. Rob Carver said.

Police were also told there may have been a male inside with a gun, he added.

"We ended up surrounding the house. The tactical support team came out . People weren't responding to our requests that they come out," Carver said.

Faced with a standoff, the police called in the armoured rescue vehicle.

At one point, tactical officers drew their weapons and used the loudspeaker on the armoured vehicle to demand people inside the home leave the premises.

"We know you're inside. Your house is surrounded. Please just come to the door with your hands clearly visible. Do that now," police intoned through the loudspeaker.

Police drew weapons as the home was searched. (Bartley Kives/CBC)

Officers wound up entering the home about an hour after the operation started. No fewer than four adults were led away in handcuffs to police cruisers.

Police continued to implore potential occupants to leave the home and continued to search it before officers packed up their weapons and left the scene.

Police did not locate any male in possession of a gun, Carver said. No charges have been laid against the four people police took into custody, he added.

During the operation, neighbours who peered out of doors and windows were told to remain indoors.

One neighbour, who declined to be identified out of fear for her personal safety, described the occupants of the home as unpleasant and claimed they frequently swear at her children.