The suspected gun, which was a drink. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Canned drink prompts police response
HAYLEY GASTMEIER
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Three Masterton schools were put in lockdown on Friday after someone called police saying they had seen a man walking down the street with what looked to be a pistol.
The suspected gun, however, turned out to be a “slim can of drink in a black plastic bag”, police say.
Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said the concern was understandable due to the way the man was holding the can with the plastic bag wrapped around his wrist.
“The way he was carrying it made it look like a [gun] barrel.”
Wairarapa College, Masterton Intermediate School, and Hadlow Preparatory School went into lockdown for a short time on Friday afternoon while police investigated the claim.
“Around 1pm a member of the public saw a male walking down High St in Solway with what appeared to be a pistol in one of his hands and alerted police immediately,” Bysouth said.
“Due to the proximity to three schools, the schools were informed of the incident.”
Bysouth said police were sent to the area and cordoned off the surrounding streets in an effort to find the man.
“He was tracked down on Daniell St with an innocuous object which at first glance could’ve looked like a pistol.”
He said police quickly deemed the bagged drink harmless.
Bysouth said the person who reported their concerns to the police did the right thing, and he commended the schools’ response.
He said police officers in about eight patrol cars swiftly resolved the incident so the Armed Offenders Squad was not required.
Yet MPS did not get notified? or go into lockdown? Surely they were much closer that Wairarapa College??