Photo: Contributed

An altercation between neighbours on Tappen Valley Road Wednesday escalated to the point where bear spray was used on several people, prompting a call to police.

Salmon Arm RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West said a dispute was taking place between two tenants when a third tenant got involved.

Tempers flared, and eventually one of the people involved in the dispute used bear spray on the others.

“By the time the police arrived, the occupants wished no action be taken and the people who were contaminated with the bear spray were treated by provincial ambulance,” said West.

“To confuse matters, police were originally notified it was a home invasion because one of the people living in the house observed another occupant wearing a balaclava. The investigation revealed that the person in the balaclava was a resident of the house and was wearing it to keep the bear spray off his face.”