Police shut down the highway in both directions between Milford and Elmsdale late Wednesday and into Thursday for public safety reasons

A Halifax man is facing several charges after RCMP shut down a section of Highway 102 overnight for public safety reasons.

Just before 9:30 p.m., East Hants District RCMP were called out to Milford. They were told a vehicle was in the median and the driver had a long gun.

Mounties say when the officers arrived to the scene near the Exit 9 northbound ramp, the driver wouldn't communicate with them.

They called in an Emergency Response Team to assist and shut down the highway in both directions between Shubenacadie and Elmsdale to contain the area.

In an emailed statement RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Clarke told HalifaxToday.ca there were no homes in the immediate area where the incident took place.

Investigators then learned before the vehicle went off the road, there was an incident in an Elmsdale shopping mall parking lot.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang before they saw a vehicle matching the description of the one in the median speeding off towards Milford.

"The Emergency Response Team did arrest the suspect in the vehicle without incident at approximately 1:25 a.m. this morning," said Clarke.

"We located and seized a loaded shotgun from the front seat of the vehicle, and we noticed signs of alcohol impairment on the driver."

Officers say the suspect refused a breath test and he was held in custody overnight.

The 36-year-old Halifax man will be in Shubenacadie Provincial Court Thursday to face the following charges: