Arrest made after threats close B.C. school, force grad ceremony postponement

NELSON, B.C. – A male student has been arrested after threats forced the evacuation of a high school in southeastern British Columbia.

Nelson RCMP said they received reports last Thursday about a possible threat to Mount Sentinel Secondary in South Slocan, about 25 kilometres west of Nelson.

Officers arrived at the school to find a student being detained by school officials and took him into custody, police said.

Officials evacuated the school and dismissed students early on Friday. They also decided to postpone graduation ceremonies set for the weekend and cancel classes on Monday and Tuesday.

The threat was determined to be very serious and involved an isolated incident, police said, adding the investigation is ongoing.

The student is facing a number of criminal charges and was expected to appear in provincial court in Castlegar on Monday.

Staff members will meet Tuesday to make alternate plans for graduation, school officials said Monday in an update posted to the school district’s website.

Students can go back to the school Wednesday morning to clean out their lockers and say their farewells, the post said.