Grade 6 students at Central Middle School had just returned to their classroom after recess to eat their lunch when a “very agitated” man walked in and shut the door behind him.
It was about 12:30 p.m. on Monday. A student who was there but did not wish to be named told the Times Colonist no teachers were in the room at the time.
The student said the man yelled at the students, asking them to call 911 and to close the windows and doors, and appeared to be afraid of something.
A student in the class was able to quickly call 911 and alert police.
School principal Tina Pierik was supervising nearby when a student alerted her to the closed classroom, the Greater Victoria School District said.
“The principal quickly understood the situation and became aware that someone other than students or staff was inside the room,” the district said in a statement.
Pierik also called 911 before initiating a lockdown, where interior doors are locked, lights are turned off, and everyone is told to stay out of sight until advised otherwise by police.
She persuaded the man to leave the classroom, then guided him into the empty school library, the district said.
Victoria police arrived at the school within five minutes of being alerted and were directed to the library, where they made an arrest, the statement said.
“The lockdown was lifted by police 11 minutes after initiating the procedure, indicating they had the situation under control.”
Police said the man appeared to be in a drug-induced state and was subdued with a conductive-energy weapon, also known as a Taser.
After being taken to police cells, he was transported to hospital and assessed by a doctor before being apprehended under the Mental Health Act.
The school district said that counsellors and support staff have been working with members of the school community in the wake of the incident, which was “upsetting for many.” The school has about 550 students in Grades 6 to 8.
The district praised those in the school who sought police support “and who appropriately and quickly implemented a lockdown procedure after Monday’s incident.”
Every school in the district practises lockdowns at least once a year, the district said.
It said it’s grateful to Victoria police and Greater Victoria Emergency Response team “who swiftly responded to the situation, arriving at the school within minutes and ensuring the safety of students and staff.”
“We also thank them for their presence and support following the incident.”
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said the situation was “distressing.” “School should be safe environments for learning and incidents like this have no place in our schools.”
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