Estevan police chief Rich Lowen confirmed Wednesday morning that police officers and swat team members used foam bullets Tuesday in an effort to end a stand off that lasted more than nine hours.

A male suspect, who had barricaded himself inside his home on 4th Street, appeared to be hit twice by the bullets late Tuesday afternoon.

"What we use is a non-lethal weapon which is a foam projectile, which strikes a person with some impact," Lowen said. "It does cause a bit of bruising, but it just is a method of taking them down without causing fatal injury."

Lowen added that the foam bullets were a good option for police to use given the situation.

"Basically what we're looking for is a use of force that is greater than trying to grab on to somebody, because it's too dangerous to grab on to somebody, but it's not enough to go to a lethal level force," he said. "So we want to be able to use something that's called an intermediate level, and that way we can still have a use of force that is warranted for the situation when it's dangerous."

Lowen also revealed that the suspect has been taken to a Regina hospital for a medical assessment. Once this assessment is completed, police will then determine if charges are warranted. Police will also be collecting witness statements and working with Crown attorneys. 

Lowen said the man would likely appear in court at some point, but the timeframe depends on his health assessment.

Nearby neighbours who were evacuated have also since returned to their homes, Lowen said.