A 52-year-old man has been taken into custody following a multi-day police operation in Fort Smith.

In a Friday news release, RCMP said officers first received a report on Tuesday evening that a person had been assaulted and threatened with a knife at a residence on Pelican Street. Police said the suspect was already under conditions prohibiting contact with the victim, who was able to escape safely.

When officers attended the scene, they attempted to communicate with the suspect but were threatened with a knife. Additional resources were brought in, including the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, and a remotely piloted aircraft.

On Wednesday around 5 p.m., officers searched the residence but the suspect was not found inside.

The following morning, police say the man was spotted fleeing across the Slave River in a canoe. He was arrested without incident.

William Hoffman, 52, of Fort Smith is facing several charges, including assault, five counts of uttering threats against a person, resisting a peace officer, and breach of a recognizance.