HALIFAX — Mounties have arrested a man they described as “armed and dangerous” after a midday manhunt on Saturday in a suburban area north of the city.
Alert sent to residents near Sunnyside Mall
Just after noon Atlantic time, the RCMP issued an emergency alert advising residents in the Bedford neighbourhood to stay inside and lock their doors. Police said they believed the man was in a wooded area behind Sunnyside Mall, prompting an intensified response from officers on the ground.
Halifax Regional Police issued a separate statement before noon saying the individual — identified by Mounties as a 31-year-old — had allegedly been involved in a shooting earlier in the day in Annapolis Royal, a small community roughly 200 kilometres northwest of Halifax. No further details were released about that earlier incident.
Where the search began and how it unfolded
According to RCMP, the manhunt started after the suspect’s vehicle was located in a parking lot behind Sunnyside Mall. Police closed off areas of the mall parking and nearby green spaces while searching the woods.
- Emergency alert issued just after noon Atlantic time.
- Vehicle discovered in the parking lot behind Sunnyside Mall in Bedford.
- Suspect described by RCMP as armed and dangerous.
The search ended with the arrest of the man. Authorities did not immediately release details about where and how the arrest took place or whether any weapons were recovered. No information was provided on any charges laid at the time of the announcement.
"They described the suspect as 'armed and dangerous,'" said RCMP in a release about the operation.
Impact on the local community
Residents in the Bedford area reported receiving the emergency notification and briefly altering plans as police activity increased at the edge of the shopping centre and adjacent trails. Sunnyside Mall is a local hub for shopping and services, and the discovery of the vehicle in its lot drew attention from nearby communities.
While officers worked to secure the scene, authorities with Halifax Regional Police and the RCMP coordinated to determine the connection between the Bedford incident and the earlier shooting in Annapolis Royal. Officials have so far withheld details about that southern Annapolis Valley community incident beyond its location and the suggestion of a link.
Timeline (as provided by police)
| Time (approx.) | Event |
|---|---|
| Earlier in the day | Shooting alleged to have occurred in Annapolis Royal |
| Just after noon | RCMP issued emergency alert for Bedford neighbourhood |
| Shortly after | Suspect's vehicle found behind Sunnyside Mall; manhunt began |
| Afternoon | Officers arrested a 31-year-old man |
As of the latest statement, police have not released the suspect’s name or disclosed whether anyone was injured in the Annapolis Royal incident. The RCMP said only that the man was arrested after the search in Bedford concluded.
For Halifax-area residents, the episode serves as a reminder of how quickly major police operations can affect everyday places — malls, walking trails and family neighbourhoods. Authorities have previously urged the public to follow emergency alerts and instructions from law enforcement to limit risk and assist ongoing enquiries.
More details are expected as the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police continue their investigation and consult with prosecutors on potential charges related to both the Bedford arrest and the alleged shooting in Annapolis Royal.
This report is based on information released by the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police; no additional comment was provided at the time of publication.
