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UPDATE: Lockdown lifted, man arrested at Victoria middle school

One man was arrested
centralschoolpolice
Victoria police responded to an incident at Central Middle School on Monday, Oct. 21.

An incident at Central Middle School in Victoria drew a heavy police response Monday (Oct. 21), including from the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, which led to the arrest of one person.

Just past noon, Victoria police say they received calls regarding an unknown man who had entered the school, which prompted a lockdown at the Fort Street school.

When officers responded, they located the 40-year-old man, who police say appeared to be in a "drug-induced state," in a school library.

The male resisted arrest, prompting the use of a conductive energy weapon, commonly known as a taser, and he was then taken into custody and medically assessed by B.C. Emergency Health Services in VicPD cells.

“Our thoughts are with the students, faculty and staff who experienced this distressing incident today,” said VicPD Chief Del Manak. “Schools should be safe environments for learning, and incidents like this have no place in our schools. I’m proud of our officers and their quick response today, and grateful that this situation was resolved without harm to anyone involved.” 

Police say the man was not armed.

In a Facebook post, the Greater Victoria School District said the situation was "quickly resolved and all staff and students are safe, with no concern for public safety as reported by police. The school is still open and operating for the remainder of the day."



Bailey Seymour

About the Author: Bailey Seymour

After a stint with the Calgary Herald and the Nanaimo Bulletin, I ended up at the Black Press Victoria Hub in March 2024
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