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A four-hour standoff ended peacefully in downtown Carleton Place Monday when a man was apprehended after barricading himself in his High Street apartment and threatening to harm himself.

Police set up a three-block perimeter around the apartment, in the basement of a coin-wash laundromat near downtown Carleton Place, and evacuated surrounding buildings, including a senior’s home adjacent to the building.

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Evacuees were taken to a nearby community centre, and rumours quickly circulated that police were dealing with a bomb threat.

Police later dispelled that rumour, with Carleton Place OPP Const. Greg Streng saying police were called to investigate after receiving a call around 10:30 a.m. about a man threatening to harm himself.

“There was no bomb threat,” Streng said.

A massive police presence quickly descended on the neighbourhood, including the OPP Emergency Response Team, heavily-armed tactical officers with the Tactical Rescue Unit and an OPP canine unit. Drones could also be seen hovering over the address as police pleaded with onlookers to disperse.

Const. Streng said the evacuation order was given “in the interest of public safety.”

The man was taken into custody without incident just before 2:30 p.m.