(GLYNN BROTHEN / iNFOnews.ca)
April 16, 2015 - 9:11 AM
KAMLOOPS - A threat which prompted the lockdown of a Sahali neighbourhood elementary school may have been a false call.
Cpl. Cheryl Bush, a spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP detachment, says investigators determined the threatening call to Summit Elementary around 2 p.m. yesterday, April 15, came from a blocked source and found out other schools across the province received similar calls. Bush says officers are still looking at where the call came from specifically.
"Further investigation has also revealed that other communities within the province received calls at approximately the same time and date, with almost identical information from the caller. This further leads police to believe that this was a false call," she says.
Bush says whether the call was false or not, police take all threats seriously. The caller made threats with a weapon, which triggered a heavy police presence at the school. School officials bussed children and staff to the KOOL campus about three blocks away.
If the caller is caught, Bush says he or she could face charges of public mischief.
"These investigations are treated very seriously, as they create unnecessary stress for staff and students, while putting the safety of the public at great risk while emergency crews respond. These incidents also divert police and other emergency personnel from legitimate emergencies," she says.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015