Area RCMP officers are dealing with an increasing amount of hostility when responding to domestic dispute calls, according to a police spokesperson.

The most recent incident occurred in Vernon on Monday when a 52-year-old man was suspected of a domestic assault.

At 9 a.m., an officer arrived to find the man smashing windows of a car with a hammer.

The suspect turned and approached the officer "in a threatening manner," according to a police report.

"Our officer feared for his safety and drew his side arm," said RCMP spokesperson Gordon Molendyk.

The tension heightened as the suspect continued to walk toward the officer who shouted at him to drop his weapon.

The man finally turned and walked away, which allowed the officer to approach the suspect and douse him with pepper spray.

"That eventually had the desired effect and the suspect gave up," said Molendyk.

The suspect was taken into custody and is facing numerous charges from uttering threats to assault.

"More and more of our officers experience this type of behaviour from suspects they deal with within our communities," said Molendyk.

"It is a credit to the clear thinking of this senior officer that this case ended without anyone being hurt."