Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 28/05) - A drunk and distraught man threatening to kill himself and anyone who came near kept police at bay for seven-hours.

After police received a call Tuesday night from the man who was holed up in a Yellowknife Inn room, they blocked off 49th Street.

More than 50 hotel guests were evacuated from their rooms and Le Frolic patrons were told to leave their cars and take a cab home

"The nature of the call was that he was going to hurt himself and police officers," said RCMP Sgt. Darcy Fleury.

The man told police he had a pistol.

Nine officers, plus the Emergency Response Team, Municipal Enforcement Officers and Yellowknife firefighters flooded the scene as negotiators talked with the man via telephone.

The talks went from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. before the man charged out of his hotel room at officer, brandishing something in his hand.

The police used a taser as he ran at them and immediately arrested the man.

"Twice he came out and closed the door. A few seconds after that incident he charged out of the room carrying an object in his right hand and pointing it at our emergency response members," said Fleury.

Chris Van Der Deen, general manager of the hotel, told Yellowknifer that the man, who was visiting a registered guest, didn't actually have a pistol.

"Obviously the situation wasn't as bad as they thought, but still, they had to take the necessary precautions to ensure that nobody was harmed," he said.

Hotel staff put out couches for the displaced guests and handed out free dinners at the Mackenzie Lounge, but the incident affected business, he said.

"We lost a lot of money," said Van Der Deen.

A few departing guests even told staff they wouldn't be back.

The man was taken to RCMP holding cells but was then sent to Stanton Territorial Hospital for a psychological assessment.

Sonny Elias, 30, has been charged with mischief over $5,000. He appeared for a show cause hearing Thursday.

Elias is being held under the Mental Health Act, said Fleury.