Oak Bay High School has reopened Friday after it was placed under a hold and secure earlier that morning for a report of a suspicious person nearby.
Oak Bay Police say they received a report of a suspicious man sitting on a bench in Bowker Park “twirling what appeared to be a small black handgun” around 11 a.m.
The Greater Victoria School District (SD61) says police recommended the high school be placed under a hold and secure “out of an abundance of caution,” which means activities can continue as usual in the school – but all doors and windows are locked.
Police say they searched the area for the suspicious person, who was described as an Asian male who is approximately 16 years old. He was said to be wearing a grey jacket and light-coloured pants and had long black hair.
Police say they extensively searched Bowker Creek Park as well as the surrounding areas, alongside members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team. However, the suspicious person was never located.
OBPD adds that it received no further reports of the suspicious person.
The hold and secure order was lifted by noon.
“The school and daycare were released from the hold and secure once the surrounding area had been thoroughly searched,” said OBPD deputy Chief Const. Julie Chanin in a release Friday.
The investigation is ongoing.
Given the proximity to OB High School, the school was put in a hold and secure for about 30 minutes while officers searched the area for the individual. Male was described as 16 yr old Asian male, long black hair, grey jacket and light coloured pants.
— Oak Bay Police (@OakBayPolice) November 3, 2023
Adam Chan
