The hold-and-secure at six schools in Sardis is now over with one adult male under arrest.
Late Friday morning, Chilliwack RCMP received a report of an undetermined threat to a school in the area.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail said the school district was contacted and that the hold-and-secure situation was a precautionary measure, adding that there was no direct threat to any one school.
“We take these things seriously,” Rail said. “There is no school targeted, it was a general threat reported to us.”
Janet Hall with School District 33 confirmed the six schools that were in hold-and-secure before noon on Friday were: G.W. Graham middle secondary, Mt. Slesse middle, Watson elementary, Vedder elementary, Vedder middle and Tyson elementary.
The Cheam Leisure Centre was also put in a hold-and-secure mode. One visitor messaged The Progress to say she was not allowed to leave the gymnasium.
“Police told Cheam staff [there] was a violent man in the area,” she said. “That’s what we were told.”
Another witness saw officers with guns drawn in the Tamihi Way and Shawnigan Crescent area, and they seemed focused on one coachhouse in particular.
Just before 1 p.m. on Friday, Rail said the hold-and-secure at all schools and the Cheam Centre was lifted and one person was in custody.
“For us, again, this is a precautionary measure,” she said.
No details are yet available on possible charges or the suspect’s name.
@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
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