Over 16 officers respond to what appeared to be a man with a rifle atop an Abbotsford building

ABBOTSFORD – Police officers from throughout Abbotsford raced to Whatcom Road Tuesday evening after getting multiple reports of a man atop an apartment building armed with what appeared to be a rifle.

AbbyPD spokesperson Sgt. Paul Walker told Fraser Valley Today the call basically came in as a potential active shooter at approximately 5:48 p.m., resulting in more than 16 officers responding immediately to the 2300 block of Whatcom Road to ensure public safety.

He says the first officer arrived on scene within seven minutes from the moment the call came into emergency dispatch, which is relatively quick given that the 2300 block of Whatcom Road is on the east side of Abbotsford.

Sgt. Walker says officers quickly contained the area, found an individual on the roof, and detained him without incident. He says the individual was cooperative throughout the investigation.

Police subsequently determined the man was an employee of a pest control company doing bird control work using an air rifle. While notices had been posted within the apartment building to inform residents of the activity, no notification had been provided to neighbouring businesses, residents, or members of the public in the surrounding area.

“The Abbotsford Police Department would like to thank the members of the public who reported their concerns,” police said. “After observing an individual carrying what appeared to be a firearm, they promptly called 911 and allowed police to assess the situation. Timely reporting enables officers to respond quickly, evaluate potential risks, and take appropriate action to help keep our community safe.”