Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / At least 10 police officers, including the presence of the Emergency Response Team, surrounded a home in a strata complex at 45286 Watson Road Monday evening, culminating in the detention and possible arrest of a male around 6 p.m.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Police incident on Watson Road

UPDATE: Chilliwack man arrested for uttering threats, theft of under $5,000, according to the Chilliwack RCMP

Apr 2, 2024 | 5:16 AM

**UPDATE at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday: Chilliwack RCMP personnel say the received a complaint of a theft from a local business in the Sardis area of Chilliwack, according to a statement from Chilliwack RCMP Corporal Carmen Kiener.

Chilliwack RCMP frontline members responded to the theft complaint at which time a preliminary investigation led them to the 45000 block of Watson Road in Chilliwack. Police engaged with the lone male occupant of the residence who allegedly made threats to hurt police and cause undisclosed damage to local infrastructure. Cpl. Kiener said the assistance of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team was required to safely take the male into custody without incident.

Police say they learned during the investigation that there may have been a suspicious substance inside the residence that could have represented a risk to the public. The residence was secured by police and through a thorough risk assessment, police determined an evacuation of the neighbourhood was not warranted.

On Tuesday, April 2, with the assistance of the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit, a search of the residence was completed by Chilliwack RCMP frontline officers, who found that the suspicious substance did not pose a risk to public safety.

The male, identified as Ian Madden, was held in custody pending a bail hearing and has been charged with the following offences:

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• Uttering Threats
• Theft Under $5000

“This is an example of Chilliwack RCMP Frontline members’ unwavering commitment to ensuring ongoing safety in our community. They acted quickly to secure a potential threat and mitigate any risk to the public,” said Cpl. Kiener, media spokesperson for the Chilliwack RCMP.

Original story below:

CHILLIWACK — At least 10 police officers, including the presence of the Emergency Response Team, surrounded a home in a strata complex at 45286 Watson Road Monday evening, culminating in the arrest of a male around 6 p.m.

Social media abruptly lit up with reports of a heavy police presence in and around the Watson Willows townhouse complex Monday evening. At least nine police units were stationed on both sides of Watson Road, including two that impeded access to the complex in its two access points, but traffic was permitted to flow in both eastbound and westbound directions along Watson Road during the incident, which did not last for hours unlike the last police incident on Watson Road on Sunday, March 24.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A heavy police presence filled the strata complex at 45286 Watson Road Monday evening shortly before 6 p.m., at Watson Willows.

At least one ERT police dog was deployed to the scene, accompanied by a handler, as police appeared to be near unit 26 or 27 of the complex, but that does not necessarily mean one of those units was involved in the incident.

A video taken by Travis Schroeder at around 6 p.m. shows three police officers detaining what appears to be an older Caucasian male donning a Vancouver Canucks jersey, pressed against a police SUV. The Caucasian male had his hands behind his back. Shortly thereafter, many of the police units dispersed and left the scene.

Image: Travis Schroeder, used with permission / A video shared by Travis Schroeder shows a man in a Vancouver Canucks jersey being detained by police at approximately 6 p.m. Monday evening at Watson Willows, 45286 Watson Road.

Chilliwack RCMP Corporal Carmen Kiener confirmed one person had been arrested Monday night.

“I can confirm that police responded to a call for service which resulted in the police incident you’re referring to,” Cpl. Kiener said in an email to Fraser Valley Today Tuesday morning. “A male was arrested without incident and the residence continues to be held while police advance the investigation.”

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / ERT members walk towards Watson Road at the conclusion of a police incident Monday evening (Apr. 1).