Fake sword shuts down Salmon Arm school and daycare

SALMON ARM – Calls about a male carrying a suspicious item led to a school and daycare being shut down this morning.

Two separate people reported seeing a male caryring a long object under camouflage, leading RCMP to shut down a school and a daycare as they investigated this morning, Feb. 16, Salmon Arm RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West says in a release.

“The item could only be described as long and out of the ordinary,” West says.

Taking caution, the RCMP contacted the nearby school and daycare to initiate 'safety protocols.' Police arrived at the scene and located the male, who turned out to be a local student carrying a sword prop for a school performance.

Schools and businesses were notified there was no danger to the area, West says.

“In this case, coordination with the schools and adherence to safety protocols went seamlessly and no one was in danger at any time,” he 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.