Six people have been arrested during a police operation outside the Robert Guertin Centre in Gatineau, Que., where a homeless encampment has been located for months.
Officers with Gatineau police and the Sûreté du Québec launched the operation in the area of the arena at 6:30 a.m.
In a media release Thursday morning, police said officers carried out the operation in the parking lot of the centre in order to execute five search warrants for narcotics in trailers, focusing on five of the 13 trailers still on the site.
Police say following a request by the City of Gatineau, a formal eviction notice was issued by an officer at the scene to inform the occupants of the trailers who refused to leave “they were illegally occupying municipal property.”
“No occupant cooperated,” police said.
“Following the refusal to cooperate and leave of their own accord, the police began securing the trailers and arresting the people illegally occupying the land.”
All eight trailers were secured by officers.
Two people arrested at the scene will face various charges, including breach of conditions, threats and assault on a police officer, according to police. A third person was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
“With the perimeter secured, searches began in the first five trailers targeted by search warrants,” police said, adding three people were arrested for possession of narcotics.
This is a developing story