IQALUIT - A dramatic exchange of gunfire between a man and the police took place on a hill overlooking downtown Iqaluit Friday.

At 4:45 p.m. behind Inuksuk High School police arrested a man after a tense standoff in full view of much of the city. No-one was hurt.

An RCMP officer points a shotgun at an armed man near Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit. Go to www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews to see exclusive video. - photo courtesy of Bill Braden photography

Thomas Josephee has been charged with several firearm-related offenses including attempted murder while using a firearm.

"I heard four gunshots," said Bill Braden, who witnessed the arrest but not the gunfire. "The first three sounded like they were from a high-powered rifle. The fourth had a different sound."

Braden heard police talk the man into surrendering with "stern, rapid-fire commands."

"Talk to me! Drop the gun!" - Braden said he heard the police say.

"He came into my view from the corner of the building," Braden recalled. "The rifle was in his left arm and his arms were extended out from him. The gun was hanging loose and the barrel was down. He was obviously surrendering."

Another witness, Chester Hinatsu, saw it from his office at Grennel House. Hinatsu said three officers approached the man with weapons drawn and trained on him. One took the rifle from the man's hands, and then the others forced him to the ground, handcuffed him and loaded him into a police vehicle.

During the standoff police were diverting traffic and pedestrians away from the area.

The site of the incident is a hill with a view of central Iqaluit.

A crowd in front of NorthMart saw the action and scattered when they heard the gunshots, according to one witness who declined to be named.

Across the street, kids playing basketball by the Nakasuk School parking lot were abruptly herded into the Alianait Big Top tent by quick-thinking volunteers who had been working on the festival's set-up. Dozens of kids as young as eight years old took shelter in the tent.

"It was scary," said Loren Rattew. "Some of the girls were crying like crazy."

School has been out for several days so Inuksuk High School was empty at the time of the incident.

A forensics team from Manitoba arrived Saturday, June 20 to investigate.