Police descend on Calgary bank after man acting erratically threatens to get gun
Calgary police took one person into custody on Friday after an incident at a Beltline bank that prompted officers to shut down part of 17th Avenue.
Police were called to the CIBC in the 1200 block of 17th Avenue S.W. at roughly 9:40 a.m. for concerns of a man who had entered the building and was acting erratically.
"He started causing some property damage and making a lot of vulgar comments," said Staff Sgt. Becky Spohr. "He then proceeded to escalate and made some threats to the patrons and the employees of the bank, and made a statement suggesting he was going to go out to his vehicle and get a gun."
It was at that time that patrons left the building and employees isolated themselves in a locked room.
Spohr said the offender left the bank and then returned – though it's unknown if he actually grabbed a weapon from his vehicle or not.
"He made his way back into the bank. At that time, thankfully, everyone was safe."
Spohr said seven bank employees were in the building at the time and had "contact with police throughout" the incident.
Police shut down 17th Avenue S.W. in both directions between 11th Street and 12th Street S.W. while the situation unfolded.
Calgary police respond to a disturbance at the CIBC in the 1200 block of 17th Avenue S.W. on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.A heavy police presence could be seen in the area, and the public was asked to stay away.
"Certainly, it was a high-risk situation because there was an indication of a gun," Spohr said.
"Given the nature of the call, the fact that there was the potential of a weapon involved and what I'll call 'hostages' inside the bank – even though they were self-isolating – that initiated the tactical response."
Just before noon, police were seen escorting the employees out of the building.
"Eventually, we were able to talk him out of the bank and safely take him into custody," Spohr said of the suspect.
"He exited the bank and was apprehended."
Police arrested one man, described as being between 25 and 30 years old.
His car has since been towed.
Calgary police respond to a disturbance at the CIBC in the 1200 block of 17th Avenue S.W. on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.No injuries were reported and no money was involved, Spohr said.
She praised the employees and bank patrons who ensured their own safety by getting out of the building or into the locked room.
The section of 17th Avenue S.W. that police closed was reopened shortly before 1 p.m.
In a statement sent to CTV News, CIBC said it is relieved the situation ended without injuries.
"While incidents like this are thankfully rare, they can be very difficult for anyone involved. Our focus is on supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of our team and our clients through services including counseling to help deal with a situation like this."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.