UPDATE Police emergency team enters Vernon home but wanted man not found

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Given the high risk situation involving a federal offender and the possibility of a firearm, police officers contained the area and activated the ERT to assist with clearing the residence. In an abundance of caution, some residences in the immediate vicinity were evacuated while police attempted to make contact into the residence.

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“The Southeast District Emergency Response Team are highly trained police officers able to deal with these types of situations,” said Cpl. Tania Finn, media relations officer. “The safety of everyone involved is of the utmost concern for police.”

After numerous attempts to make contact with anyone inside the residence, the ERT made entry and cleared the building. The wanted individual, Heltman, was not located but police seized a loaded handgun from the residence during the investigation.

An eyewitness at the scene says they heard a lot of gunfire before police entered the home.

Police continue to search for Heltman who has ties to the Okanagan.

Anyone with information regarding Robert Heltman, is asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP non-emergency line of 250-545-7171, or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.

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UPDATE 8:50 p.m.

An eyewitness at the scene says they heard a lot of gunfire before police entered the home.

People at the site have been told the incident is now over.

Vernon Matters has requested details from Vernon RCMP.

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Reports on social media say the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) is involved in a standoff incident in Vernon’s Okanagan Landing area.

The first reports of people seeing ERT vehicles driving at a high rate of speed into the Landing area came in about 5:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Social media postings suggest the RCMP’s focus in a home on Brooks Lane, with police snipers in the area and the dog team.

One person says they saw a flash bomb set off in the house.

“There is a major police presence including machine guns and swat team on Okanagan Landing Road just past the Strand Resort on the way to the Yacht Club. We can see from the water there are police in the surrounding yards watching the house,” one person told Vernon Matters.

Vernon Matters has reached out to Vernon RCMP for details.