High-risk incident near Lethbridge elementary school ends

An undated photo showing a Lethbridge Police Service vehicle. (Supplied)

A ‘high-risk incident’ on 9 Avenue South that took place near a Lethbridge school Wednesday afternoon is over.

A Lethbridge police officer confirmed to CTV News Wednesday shortly before 5 p.m. that the incident was essentially a weapons complaint that ended with four to five people being taken into custody.

In a media statement, Lethbridge police said several people were detained and police recovered an imitation weapon at a southside home.

They added that "there is no evidence at this time to support criminal charges."

At 3:54 p.m., police issued a statement asking the public to avoid the area around the 1200 block of 9 Avenue South.

They also asked that parents picking up children from Fleet Bawden Elementary School use 12^th Street South and go to the roundabout on the west side of the school.

The school issued a release at 4:15 saying that once they were informed of an external threat in the neighbourhood by police at 3:25 p.m., they initiated a perimeter secure out of an abundance of caution.

During a perimeter secure, school doors that lead outside are locked, and students aren't allowed to go outside the building.

Once the bus was re-routed to the roundabout on the school's west side, students boarded it to go home.

There was also a police presence at the school throughout the incident.