Hold and secure lifted as Halton police make arrest following reports of man with gun outside Oakville school

Heavily-armed Halton Regional Police officers have gone into an Oakville neighbourhood Tuesday (March 1) after reports of a male with a gun in the area.

The incident around Garth Webb Secondary School forced a lockdown at the school while other schools nearby (Joan of Arc, Captain R Wilson, Willowglen Montessori, St John Paul II, Emily Carr, Heritage Glen, Abbey Park and St. Bernadette) were in hold and secure, meaning no one can enter or exit the buildings and all doors must remain locked.

The hold and secure and lockdown orders have been lifted for all schools, police reported around 1:20 p.m.

Police have taken a male into custody but there is an "Ongoing police presence" as the investigation works to a conclusion, police said

The suspect had been considered "armed and dangerous" and there had been a "heavy police presence" in the area, police said in a tweet around 12:20 p.m., warning anyone in the area to not approach the suspect and to call 911 if you see him.

"A lockdown is a response to an emergency situation inside a school or an emergency situation on or very near to school property, wherein the evacuation of the school building is not safe," according to the Halton District School Board website. "During a Lockdown, steps are taken to isolate students, staff and visitors from the emergency situation by having everyone remain in designated locations inside the school building. In all lockdown situations, school staff establishes communication with the police by calling 911."

This incident comes less than four months after another lockdown was triggered at the same school. In that case, a student was arrested.