North Bay police find no evidence of firearms after gunshots report Sunday

A heavy police presence around a North Bay apartment building Sunday afternoon turned out to be a false alarm.

The North Bay Police Service evacuated a residential building Sunday afternoon following a report of possible gunfire, an hours-long response that concluded with no evidence of firearms found.

The incident began at about 12:48 p.m. on Sept. 14 when police responded to a call about possible gunshots and sounds of distress from a multi-unit complex near Rose Avenue and Algonquin Avenue.

Patrol officers were the first to arrive on the scene. They were quickly supported by the police service’s Emergency Response Team and other units. Paramedics with the Nipissing District Paramedic Services also attended to provide medical support as needed.

Cellphone video shared with CTV News captured portions of the incident as it began to unfold.

Evacuation and investigation

As a precaution, police evacuated residents from the building while officers methodically cleared each unit.

“We take each and every call of this nature seriously and respond accordingly,” said acting Deputy Chief Jeff Warner in a news release Monday. “Our officers rely on their training and specialized tools to effectively resolve situations like this safely.”

After a thorough search of the complex, investigators confirmed they located no evidence to support the initial report.

Authorities also confirmed no one was injured during the incident.

“No arrests were made in connection with this call,” police said.

Officers cleared the scene shortly after 5 p.m., and all residents were permitted to return to their homes.

Police commend response, urge public caution

Police characterized the outcome of the tense situation as a favourable one.

“This occurrence had a favourable outcome, and we commend all members involved for their professionalism,” said Warner.

Authorities also used the incident to remind the public that if they encounter an active police investigation, they should avoid the area and allow emergency responders to do their work safely.