Threat prompts lockdown

Photo: Google Street View

Schools in Rutland were briefly on lockdown while RCMP hunted for a man wielding a gun over the lunch hour on Tuesday.

Several reader reports to Castanet said that all schools in the area of Ben Lee Park were locked down. These were confirmed as being Heritage Christian School, Rutland Middle School, Pearson Road Elementary and Rutland Senior Secondary.

Police were on site at the schools while officers with dogs searched for the man.

Kelowna RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Duncan said a male entered a business at the corner of Leathead and Rutland roads and brandished a weapon before fleeing.

"Our members did a containment and the schools were locked down. The lockdown has since been lifted.

The business where the incident took place is Swankies Gourmet Hot Dogs.

Two police dogs were brought in, but failed to find a scent, said Duncan. Police have a description of the suspect and continue to patrol the area in search of him.