Police have charged a 29-year-old man accused of brandishing an axe and banging on doors in the 300 block in Iqaluit early Feb. 6.
The RCMP arrived in the area and witnessed a man with the axe. Police say they advised the man that he was under arrest. The accused allegedly walked toward the police waving the axe, ignoring the officer's direction to drop it, stated Cpl. Henry Coman in a news release.
"Officers continued to direct the man to drop the axe and he eventually did. The officers verbally de-escalated this potentially volatile incident while ensuring the safety of themselves, the community, and the male," Coman said.
While in the RCMP cell block for booking, the police said the accused once again resisted and it took several officers to secure him in a cell.
"It was then learned that (the accused) was subject to court orders directing him to keep the peace as well as abstain from intoxicating substances," said Coman.
The man was ultimately charged with carrying a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, resisting arrest and failing to comply with a court order.
He remains in custody until a bail hearing scheduled at the Nunavut Court of Justice for the afternoon of Feb. 8.