Armoured vehicle, tactical officers converge at North End home on Christmas Day

The Winnipeg Police Serviceused its armoured rescue vehicle and tactical officersto carry outaChristmas Day search after a report of an assault inWinnipeg's North End.

Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the entire block of Redwood Avenue between Salter Street and Aikins Street was blocked off for an operation involving more than a dozen officers and 14 vehicles.

Police initially showed up at a home on Redwood around 10:30 a.m. in response to a report of an assault that took place elsewhere, Const. Rob Carver said.

Police were also told there may have been a male inside with a gun, he added.

"We ended up surrounding the house. The tactical support team came out . People weren't responding to our requests that they come out," Carver said.

Faced with a standoff, the police called in the armoured rescue vehicle.

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At one point, tactical officers drew their weapons andused theloudspeaker on the armoured vehicle to demand people inside the homeleave the premises.

"We know you're inside. Your house is surrounded. Please just come to the door with your hands clearly visible. Do that now," police intoned through the loudspeaker.

Officers wound up entering the home about an hour after the operation started. No fewer than four adultswere led away in handcuffs to police cruisers.

Police continued to implore potential occupantsto leave the home and continued to search itbefore officers packed up their weapons and left the scene.

Police did not locate any male in possession of a gun,Carver said. No charges have been laid against the four people police took into custody, he added.

During the operation, neighbours who peered out of doors and windows were told to remain indoors.

One neighbour, who declined to be identified out of fear for her personal safety, described the occupants of the home as unpleasant and claimed they frequently swear at her children.