A four-hour standoff with police ended with a man being taken into custody on Sunday evening, Jan. 26 in Maple Ridge.

The incident started at approximately 4:15 p.m., after Ridge Meadows RCMP received reports there was a man inside a residence in the 12000 block of Garden Street, who was believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis.

The man refused to exit the home, so the assistance of the Integrated Emergency Response Team, with military-style gear, was requested.

Witnesses heard what sounded like flashbang grenades and smelled teargas, and the ERT team's tactical vehicle had a breaching ram that appeared to be used.

Two dogs described as pit bulls escaped from the house and fled into the neighbourhood, and friends and neighbours were searching for the animals.

Police blocked Brown Avenue in the area around the Royal Canadian Legion at 224th Street, which bordered the property.

The incident ended with the man being taken into custody approximately four hours later, at 8:30 p.m.

The male was safely apprehended and transported to hospital, said a Ridge Meadows RCMP press release.