Five suspects were taken into custody on Monday after RCMP conducted a high-risk arrest in a neighbourhood near Eastview Middle School.

The RCMP asked that the school initiate an administrative lockdown while they investigated at a nearby residence because the suspects could have been armed. Officials have said the students were not in any danger during the event.

RCMP have said these arrests stem from an incident early Monday morning in Penhold where a home invasion took place. Further investigation revealed that the suspects may be in Red Deer. City RCMP then contained a residence around noon on Monday which resulted in the closure of streets in the area of 39 St. to 44 St. and 40 Ave.

Bruce Buruma, director of community relations for the Red Deer Public School district, said schools are prepared for incidents like these.

“Part of our emergency procedures is planning for incidents like this. Every school is prepared for something like this. Just like we have fire drills in the schools, we have lockdown (drills) as well.

“There are different levels of administrative lockdowns and it can be anything from a big dog being in the school and we don’t want any incidents surrounding that to an intruder in the school,” he said. “(On Monday) we just really ensured that students weren’t entering or exiting the school. I think everything went well.”

He added the administrative lockdown was initiated by the RCMP.

“We have a close and good working relationship with the RCMP,” said Buruma.

RCMP continue to investigate the incident and no further information was available at press time.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com