Four people are expected in court following a four-hour stand-off with police at an Inverness housing estate.
Officers were called to a block of flats in Mackay Road in the Hilton area after reports of an early hours disturbance.
The street was cordoned off while police tried to negotiate with people inside a flat on the upper floor of the four-storey building.
The drama happened less than a year after another block in Mackay Road was raided by armed officers following reports of gunshots in the area.
Police, who have been criticised for increased carrying of sidearms in the north, insisted no armed officers took part in Thursday’s incident, which ended just after 8am.
A woman and three men were detained.
It is understood that the property involved in the incident was sealed off by officers.
A force spokesman said inquiries were ongoing. It is expected that the four will appear at Inverness Sheriff Court later.
Inspector Alasdair Goskirk, who was at the scene yesterday, thanked members of the Hilton community for “their patience and understanding”.
Insp Goskirk also reassured neighbours that no firearms officers had been deployed following complaints that armed police have been routinely patrolling the streets of the Highland capital.
However, the incident brought back memories of the serious incident in Hilton last summer and residents spoke of their alarm at the police presence in the area, which included at least three marked vehicles.
One woman, who did not give her name, said the street was lined with police cars.
Another neighbour said she was concerned because officers were still in the area when children were getting ready for school.
Cauldeen Primary is close to the block of flats where the incident happened.
Chairman of Hilton community council, Angus Dick, said it was worrying for people to see significant numbers of police on the streets.
He said: “We need to do something about people that cause trouble like this. This sort of thing can frighten a lot of people.”
Last year’s incident in Hilton resulted in the estate being put on lockdown while officers tried to track down a gunman who had fired shots at a local woman.
Primary school children were kept in school and two blocks of flats were cordoned off and guarded by armed police.
James Smith is now awaiting sentence after being found guilty of attempted murder following the incident.
Smith, 63, denied the charge and further charges of culpably and recklessly discharging the gun from within his flat at 111 Mackay Road but he was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh.
He is due to be sentenced later this month.