The Yorkton municipal RCMP have charged a 20-year-old Yorkton man in relation to an incident that closed down all Yorkton schools on the afternoon of May 4.
Tanner Edward Lingel faces one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
At approximately 12:20 p.m. last Thursday, the detachment received a call that an adult male wearing a t-shirt as a bandana and wielding a handgun was seen at the Yorkton Regional High School annual car show. Initial reports suggested his face may have been covered evoking fears of a potential terrorist attack.
The school division immediately initiated its safety protocol of placing schools in a hold and secure state, which means locking the exterior doors, but allowing normal school activities to continue inside. Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools followed suit.
Police located Lingel a short time later walking on Darlington Street near Victoria Avenue and took him into custody. Staff Sgt. Greg Nichol confirmed rumours that the alleged weapon was not a real gun.
Lingel appeared in Yorkton Court June 8. He was remanded in custody pending the preparation of a bail verification report. He is scheduled to appear again on Thursday.
Two other suspects were also arrested at a residence on Third Avenue shortly after the incident, but ultimately police decided charges were not warranted.
GSSD responded with a press release and an automated voice message to parents at approximately 1:45 p.m. The lockdown was lifted shortly before 3 p.m.
