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Police warrant triggers ‘hold and secure’ at Burnaby high school

Police vehicles and tactical officers descended on a house less than two blocks from Alpha Secondary School Wednesday morning to arrest a man wanted on multiple warrants. He was taken into custody without incident.
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An Emergency Response Team member responds to an incident in South Burnaby in October 2020.

Police executed a high-risk arrest near a Burnaby high school Wednesday morning, trigging a “hold and secure” protocol for staff and students that lasted nearly two hours.

Police got information on Tuesday afternoon that a man wanted on several warrants could be found at a home in the 4700 block of Union Street, less than two blocks away from Alpha Secondary School, Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Mike Kalanj told the NOW.

On Wednesday morning, after confirming the location of the suspect, police alerted the school that multiple police vehicles, officers and the Emergency Response Team would be in the area executing the arrest.

“Due to his prior dealings with police, extra precautions were taken,” Kalanj said.

Out of an abundance of caution, Alpha Secondary initiated a hold and secure – a response to an incident outside of the building that is not related to the school.

“It directs students and staff to be inside and requires exterior classroom doors and windows to be closed,” stated a letter to parents from principal Tim Wozney Wednesday afternoon.  

He said the protocol was in place from about 10:10 a.m. to just  before noon.

“When all was said and done, the suspect was taken into custody without incident. He actually just came to the door and came with us,” Kalanj said.

Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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