Quebec provincial police are taking over an investigation into an overnight incident that involved hours of negotiations with a man who barricaded himself in his apartment in Montreal's east end.

Police, firefighters and ambulance technicians were called to a building Thursday evening at the corner of Ontario Street East and Leclaire Street to deal with a man who was described as agitated and in distress.

Officers closed off the street to traffic as they dealt with the 35-year-old man who was in his apartment and believed to be armed with a knife.

After several hours of negotiating, officers entered the apartment unit where they found the man suffering from cuts to his upper body.

A Sûreté du Québec spokesman said it's believed the injuries were self-inflicted.

The man's life is not in danger.