Residents of the Columbia Valley near Chilliwack were relieved to hear that police had arrested a shirtless man wielding an axe on Wednesday (Jan. 29).

Karen Spyker Steegstra said their family was "definitely rattled" after returning home to see the man waving an axe outdoors.

They are thankful the man was caught after hours of police searching, and would receive the help he needed.

"We got home around 7:30 p.m. and entered our house from the back door," Steegstra said.

"My daughter then let our dog out the front door and screamed there was a man.

"I came to the door and saw a man with no shirt waving an axe."

She yelled for everyone to get in the house.

"I told the guy I was calling 911. He said, 'Good idea. I'm being chased.' He stuck around outside for a bit and then I couldn't see him. I had no idea if he was hiding in one of my out buildings."

It was "a very tense couple of hours" she said as officers and police dogs swept the area.

Police vehicles had rushed to the rural area above Cultus Lake, after receiving the first call saying a man with a weapon had broken into a shed on a property near Maple Falls Road.

"Last night we received a call about a male suspect whom had broken into an outbuilding, caused damage, was in possession of a weapon, and running around the Columbia Valley residential area of Maple Falls Road," said Cpl. Carmen Kiener, spokesperson for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment.

Frontline officers and the integrated police dog section responded quickly to the call. 

Residents described the experience as "nerve-wracking" as police officers combed the area.

"After a lengthy search, a male was located and arrested. The male is being held for court with a number of recommended charges," Kiener said.