The Ontario Provincial Police were involved in a tense standoff with Mohawk protesters in Deseronto, about 220 kilometres east of Toronto, on Friday.

At one point during the confrontation, which occurred around 4 p.m., officers drew their weapons.

OPP Sgt. Kristine Rae, in an interview with CTV.ca, would not confirm earlier reports that officers drew their weapons in reaction to seeing one of the Mohawks with a rifle or shotgun.

The protesters claim they had no weapons and no shots were fired.

The standoff followed an earlier incident Friday when Napanee OPP officers arrested Tyendinaga Mohawk leader Shawn Brant during a traffic stop.

During the arrest, which took place around 1:45 p.m., a group of people approached police and a confrontation ensued.

The police officers were allegedly assaulted and the window of an OPP vehicle was smashed.

As a result, the OPP established road blocks to prevent access to Deseronto Road.

Around 4 p.m., a group of people approached police at a blockade at Bridge Street.

Police recognized some within the group as suspects wanted in relation to protests that occurred in Deseronto on April 21 and 22.

Officers attempted to arrest the suspects but were met with resistance from the group.

During that incident "officers had their guns drawn in reaction to something," said Rae.

The report that officers saw a gun was "still under investigation," she said.

Ten people were eventually arrested for various offences including assaulting police. Six adults remain in OPP custody and will appear for a bail hearing Saturday in Napanee. Four young people were released unconditionally and the two police officers were taken to hospital for minor injuries.

Dan Doreen, the leader of a group that erected a blockade last Sunday on Deseronto's main road, was among those arrested.

Last Sunday's blockade was erected near Belleville, Ont., to protest a land dispute with a Kingston-based developer.

Brant was already under court order to stay away from any protests following his involvement in last June's national aboriginal day of action.

At that time, Brant lead a blockade of Highway 2 near Deseronto and was charged with mischief and breach of his bail conditions.

With files from The Canadian Press