A heavy police presence in Ladysmith last week was due to a person in crisis.
In the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 16, the Town of Ladysmith shared on its website that Ladysmith RCMP had closed Roberts Street to both vehicles and pedestrians – including local traffic – between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
According to local RCMP, the incident posed no danger to the public and that was the reason that there were no public notifications.
“It was an isolated incident with a person in crisis,” RCMP noted, adding that the police presence was a precaution for the individual and the police involved to protect their safety and to prevent any escalation.
The local RCMP spokesperson stated that the incident was treated carefully and with the full intent of public safety and that the well-being of the neighbourhood, the person involved and citizens in general were uppermost in the RCMP’s handling of the situation. RCMP reported that the incident was resolved safely and no charges are pending.
Ladysmith Primary School briefly went into hold-and-secure protocols, with doors locked but classes continuing as usual.
“The principal just needed some time to let the school know, let the teachers and the students know while [there was] some sort of police presence in the vicinity of the school,” said Dale Burgos, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools spokesperson.
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