UPDATE 12:45pm, February 22: VicPD issued a press release regarding the events that occurred.

Mark Cunningham, a sixty-two year-old Victoria man has been charged with three offences. They are:

• Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

• Unauthorized possession of a firearm

Cunningham was held for morning court.

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UPDATE 1:30am, February 22: Suspect arrested after 5 hour standoff on Gorge Road. Police have completed a full security sweep and are allowing residents back into the buildings.

All road blocks are coming down.

It is believed the suspect disposed of the firearm in question on a neighbour’s balcony, prior to arrest.

Negotiators were called to the scene & the man surrendered. A weapon was recovered. We’ll have more info later today. #F167914 #yyj — Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) February 22, 2016

Initial reports were a man pointed a rifle & threatened people at that location. GVERT was initiated, & scene locked down. #F167914 #yyj — Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) February 22, 2016

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There is a heavy police presence outside an apartment complex on Gorge Road East near Washington. Police are dealing with a reportedly armed male behaving erratically inside an apartment suite.

Police are not letting traffic or people through.

“Police have assault rifles out and K9 on scene,” one buzz fan tells us. A man has himself barricaded with a gun inside a third floor suite at 246 Gorge road East.

Several people have messaged the buzz telling us they heard what sounded like a gun shot.

One woman claims the man was threatening to shoot people.

He has been throwing bottles onto the street and what appears to be a broom. He also threw several duffle bags on the balcony.

Police urge residents and all in the vicinity to stay in their suites. If you are near the building, police ask to stay away from the windows.

The situation is ongoing. We will update once we learn more.