A large police presence that occupied part of Winnipeg’s Osborne Village on Wednesday morning has cleared out with one person in handcuffs.

The heavily armed police tactical unit descended Roslyn Road, just off Osborne Street, in the early morning and focused on a house directly behind the Shell gas station.

John Wintrup, who lives in the area, said he heard a flashbang go off around 5:15 a.m. and police on a loudspeaker saying they had a warrant for someone’s arrest.

Another round of bangs went off just after 6 a.m., just before 7 a.m. and a little after that, according to witnesses.

A CBC Manitoba employee who lives nearby said a message was played over their building intercom, alerting residents to the police presence and advising people to stay inside. Wintrup said his building got a similar message, also telling people to stay off their balconies.

A flashbang, or stun grenade, is an explosive device that produces a loud noise and blinding flash of light to disorient a person. The reverberations from the bangs could be felt in nearby buildings.

Police provided no information on what was happening, other than a social media post saying there was no imminent risk to public safety and it was a contained investigation.

Access to the nearby Shoppers Drug Mart and the Shell station was off limits while police were in the area.

Wintrup said the house has been a concern for people in the area for some time with nuisance behaviour — illegal dumping into the neighbouring condo garbage bins, vehicles being parked “all over the place” and driven across the property, people coming and going at all hours.

“It’s a problem property. We’ve complained about it, the neighbours have complained about it, all winter long,” he said.

“It’s important to see the police finally showing up here. I’m glad they are.”

Police began clearing the area around 9:30 a.m. after leading a man out of the house. Shortly before the arrest, officers donned gas masks and discharged pepper spray.