BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

WALTHAM – Around 7:00 pm on Sunday, June 1, Sûreté du Québec (SQ) officers responded to a call about a man reportedly carrying a firearm while walking along Chemin Nadeau. When police arrived, the man retreated into his home and refused to come out. Officers evacuated nearby residents as a precaution.

Around 2:00 am on Monday, members of the SQ’s Campbell’s Bay detachment entered the residence and found the man hiding inside. A firearm was recovered. The man, in his forties, was taken to the SQ station in Campbell’s Bay and appeared before a judge on June 2. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.

According to Waltham Mayor Odette Godin, the incident stemmed from a conflict between neighbours that had been escalating over several weeks.

During the standoff, Mayor Godin communicated with residents via a community Facebook group. At 9:00 pm, she warned people to avoid Nadeau and Bechamp Roads, saying “people could get hurt.” An hour later, she clarified that there was no immediate threat to the public, but advised residents to stay away from the area as a precaution. She noted that although the municipality has an emergency alert system, it was not activated because it is typically reserved for natural disasters.

A neighbour commented on Facebook: “This guy, as my neighbour for the last 10 years, has been nothing but kind. He did seem a little troubled, which could happen to any of us. I don’t know the whole situation or what went down, but I’m glad everyone is OK.”

SQ spokesperson Marc Tessier said the investigation is ongoing, and that charges will depend on what is found during the search of the home. Charges were still pending at press time.