REGINA — A firearms report that turned out to be a toy gun put several schools in Regina in Secure the Building Mode Wednesday.
At noon, Regina police were dispatched to the area of College Avenue and Wallace Street for the report of someone in a vehicle with a firearm. Police conducted an area check and were able to quickly locate the vehicle and the suspects. The alleged firearm, which remained in the vehicle, was revealed to be a toy gun. No charges have been laid.
School resource officers had notified multiple schools in the area and they were put into Secure-the-Building mode. Those protocols were lifted a short time later.
Secure the Building mode is a situation where it is believed a threat is currently outside the building resulting in the decision to secure the school whereby all outside doors are locked to secure the building. Each exterior door is monitored by designated school staff until Secure the Building mode has been lifted. Entry and exit of the building is at the front doors only and is monitored by police and school administration.
While releasing the above information, Regina Police Service also noted there was misinformation circulating that bear spray was involved in the incident, and stressed no bear spray was involved.
However, Tuesday, police did respond to a report of a weapons incident involving bear spray. At approximately 12:15 p.m. officers were dispatched to a school on the 3300 block of 6th Avenue for a report of a weapons incident involving bear spray.
When officers arrived, they learned that a male youth had entered the school and an altercation took place between him and another male youth, who is a student at the school. The altercation ended when the youth suspect sprayed bear mace at the student and then fled the location. The incident took place in a common area of the school. Numerous students and faculty were in the area, and were affected by the bear mace.
Immediately following the incident, the school was put into ‘Secure the Building’ mode. As of Tuesday, school resource officers were leading the investigation and a search for the suspect was ongoing.
Anyone who may have information is asked to contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
