Investigators with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team are confirmed to be involved in the search of a home on Friday, June 12, in Maple Ridge.
Multiple witnesses reported that police had a home surrounded with guns drawn just after 10 a.m. on Hinch Crescent, by the intersection of 227 Street and 122 Avenue.
Sgt. Freda Fong with the homicide investigation team confirmed that IHIT investigators executed a search warrant with the assistance of the RCMP Emergency Response Team at the residence.
The search, she noted, was one of several warranted searches that took place that day at multiple locations.
According to witness Glenn McCunnie, his roommate noticed at least half a dozen police SUV’s go by their house and stop around the corner.
Then they saw an Emergency Response Team vehicle in front of their house.
“They had what looked like assault weapons pointed at the house and were asking the occupants to come out with their hands up,” said McCunnie.
He saw the police deploy a drone and said they also let off at least two flash bangs – also known as stun grenades or distraction devices that are used to temporarily disorient their targets.
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About 10 minutes later, he said, a woman surrendered to police.
“She said she was sleeping and had no idea what was going on,” McCunnie stated.
In one witness video posted online, a loud bang could be heard with police on a loud speaker asking someone to come out of the house with their hands up.
In another video, police could be seen in an armoured vehicle with a gun drawn in front of a house.
A witness said they saw police with assault rifles shooting flash bangs at a house.
Then a person in a video is heard saying, “I just woke up,” and “What did I do?”
When contacted Maple Ridge RCMP said they could not comment on what took place as the incident is still under investigation.
However, they said, there was no threat to public safety.
“The searches pertain to an active and ongoing investigation for which charges have not been laid,” explained Fong.
• More to come as information becomes available