Ottawa police said a threat was made by a "suspicious male" who had possibly checked into the Chimo Hotel (near Highway 417 and St. Laurent St.).
By: Robin Levinson King Staff Reporter, Published on Wed Jan 21 2015
Ottawa police have a suspect in custody as they keep investigating a “possible threat” early Wednesday that forced the evacuation of a hotel in the city’s east end, police confirm.
Police said a threat was made by a “suspicious male” who had possibly checked into the Chimo Hotel (near Highway 417 and St. Laurent St.).
Const. Chuck Benoit said the investigation began at about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday. The hotel was cordoned off and the guests evacuated.
“The information that we received that it was a threat; a suspicious male that was at the hotel. We have specialty units, tactical and Hazmat that are on scene.”
He said hotel guests were evacuated safely and quietly so officers could concentrate on what he called a “complex investigation.”
Benoit could not say how many people were evacuated.
“We used OC Transpo to transport these families to another location inside Ottawa at another hotel,” he said.
Police closed all streets surrounding the hotel and were asking the public to avoid the area.
The Chimo Hotel website says it has 256 guest rooms.
Good. That’s not exactly in my neighbourhood, but it’s a little close for comfort!