Faculties in Kitchener’s Pioneer Park neighbourhood had been positioned in maintain and safe on Wednesday morning after police acquired a number of experiences of a male strolling round with a shotgun.
Six faculties had been locked down whereas officers investigated: Pioneer Park Public Faculty, Brigadoon Public Faculty, Doon Public Faculty, J W Gerth Public Faculty, Groh Public Faculty and St. Timothy Catholic Elementary Faculty.
A maintain and safe was additionally in impact at Conestoga Faculty’s Doon campus.
Roads and trails round Previous Carriage Drive and Homer Watson Boulevard had been closed and residents had been additionally requested to keep away from the world.
The lockdowns had been lifted simply earlier than the midday hour.
Police response to a weapons name in Kitchener’s Pioneer Park neighbourhood on June 5, 2024. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)
Waterloo Regional Police decided a male had been strolling round his personal property whereas carrying a pellet gun.
He was initially arrested for possession of a weapon for a harmful goal however in the end no charges had been laid as police stated no legal offence had occurred.
“In this day and age, it could be a replica firearm or an imitation firearm,” defined Const. Brad Hickey. “But when people see a firearm, sometimes they don’t know. Sometimes we don’t know until we’re actually able to hold it, see it, examine it for ourselves to determine if it’s actually a real firearm or not.”
A police car blocks off a portion of Previous Carriage Drive in Kitchener on June 5, 2024. (Stefanie Davis/)
Crystal Lahai, who lives on Previous Carriage Drive, was starlted by the big police presence.
“Across the street there were like eight cop cars, we noticed they had dogs here and people in suits. It was just kind of shocking to see it all,” she stated. “I was just wondering what was going on, if it was dangerous or if they were just investigating something.”
Police stated officers from their central and north divisions, in addition to the Direct Motion Response Crew, Group Engagement Unit, Normal Investigation Unit and Emergency Response Crew responded to the gun name.
“Based on the information received, there was a heavy police presence that responded to the area to ensure the safety of all the individuals in the area,” Hickey stated. “The hold and secures – we’re in touch with the school boards. We advise school boards of the situation and an evaluation takes place and they determine which route – if a hold and secure or lockdown – is going to be placed at a school.”
– With reporting by Stefanie Davis
