Emergency services swarm in as armed man stands on roof of Shell Coles Express Tarcoola for four hours

A man in his 30s who stood on a service station roof for more than four hours in hot weather wielding two knives was taken to hospital for assessment after emergency services coaxed him to come down. Geraldton Police swarmed Shell Coles Express Tarcoola on Sunday afternoon after a man was seen standing on top of the roof armed with two knives about 12pm. The Mahomets Flats service station was closed immediately and police set up a traffic diversion while they coaxed the man down. Firefighters and ambulance services were parked at the scene while the situation unfolded. About 3.20pm, the man was seen standing on the tip of a ladder placed along the side of the building brandishing two knives, while a man known to him persuaded him to come down. A St John WA spokesperson said they were called to the scene about 12.18pm and took a man in his 30s to Geraldton Regional Hospital just after 4pm. It is understood the man was having a mental health episode due to a family-related matter and had been on the roof since 11am. Shell Coles Express Tarcoola reopened soon after 4pm and was operating as normal on Monday. Geraldton Police have been contacted for comment. It was unknown at the time of publication if the man had been charged over the incident.