UPDATE: Penticton RCMP investigating school threat

PENTICTON – RCMP are investigating a threat made at Skaha Lake Middle School in Penticton.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police initiated an investigation Sunday, May 21, after being advised of a threat made toward the school and its students.

Wrigglesworth says police have identified a suspect and investigators have spoken to the person and their family members.

He says  there is no evidence at this time to believe anyone is at risk.

RCMP will not say what the nature of the threat was.

Okanagan Skaha School District superintendent Wendy Hyer says in a media release the police are looking into "threat related behaviour" at Skaha Lake Middle School.

She says the school board's multidisciplinary community violence threat risk assessment team has been initiated to deal with the incident, adding the School District has also been in close contact with provincial safety experts.

"I do want to assure you that all staff and students are safe. We take every precaution to ensure the safety of children and our staff members," Hyer says in the release.

— This story was updated at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2017 to includen comment from the School District.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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