Secure-the-building protocol lifted at 4 Regina schools; one arrest made

Secure-the-building protocols for three schools in Regina’s north end have been lifted.

The protocols were put in place Tuesday morning at St. Peter’s, Archbishop M. C. O’Neill, and Thom Collegiate in response to a social media message.

Regina police have arrested one suspect as a result. Charges are pending and the police are continuing to investigate the incident.

The protocols were lifted Tuesday afternoon after police determined there was no actual threat to students or staff.

Police said they continue to investigate the social media message that resulted in the precautionary step.

“We’re continuing to investigate the message itself. Who sent it, why and what the intention was – and what their culpability might be,” Regina Police Service communications manager Elizabeth Popowich explained.

While that situation was unfolding, Seven Stones Community School, on Princess Street, was also put into secure the building mode.

Some students reported that they had seen a male, about 25 minutes earlier, holding what they thought was a firearm. The witnesses said they thought the male went into a house in the 1100 block of McTavish Street.

Police took two people into custody without incident from the home, but they did not match witness descriptions. No firearm was found and as a result no arrests or charges were laid.

Further investigation, including a review of available video, shows a male in the area holding an object during that time frame, but the object does not appear to be a firearm.

The protocol was lifted less than two hours later when it was deemed the incident was not a threat.

The two incidents are not believed to be related.

At all schools, classes continued as scheduled, the only disruptions were cancelled afternoon kindergarten at St. Peters, and some students at Archbishop M.C. O’Neill partook in an extended class field trip.

With files from Colton Praill