Ottawa police say the man arrested following the University of Ottawa’s two-hour campus lockdown on Friday was in possession of a replica firearm, while the school says it has launched a review of its emergency response.
According to a news release from police, the suspect was charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and mischief by preventing the lawful enjoyment of property.
“We’re very confident at the onset of the investigation that it was a toy cap gun,” Ottawa police Insp. Brian Samuel told CTV News Ottawa.
The University of Ottawa went into lockdown while police investigated reports of a suspicious person, leading to the arrest of one individual.
The university issued a lockdown notice at 5:18 p.m. for what it described as a violent incident, advising students to barricade themselves inside buildings, stay away from doors and windows and remain silent. The campus was declared safe shortly after 7 p.m. and no injuries were reported.
Police say they were first alerted to a suspicious person near the Rideau Centre at approximately 4:20 p.m.
Officers used CCTV footage to track the individual to the University of Ottawa campus and then uOttawa Station and he was arrested off campus on Waller Street shortly before 7 p.m.
The individual’s name and age have not been released, but he was known to Ottawa police. The accused will appear in court today, police say.
uOttawa to review emergency response
In the wake of the lockdown, the University of Ottawa Students’ Union called on the university to develop a “clear action plan for emergency situations.”
In a statement issued early Saturday morning, the University of Ottawa Students’ Union said a lack of communication created uncertainty about the nature of the threat.
“We understand firsthand how distressing and confusing this situation was, and we echo students’ concerns that communication from the university during this crisis was neither clear nor timely,” the union wrote.
The students’ union says the lockdown notification was delivered via SecurUO, a university safety app, which meant not all students were notified of the situation.
“While we understand that all parties were working in the best interest of students through an incredibly difficult situation, we would have expected that the safety protocols be shared via email with all students,” the students’ union’s statement reads.
“As such, we call on the University of Ottawa to develop and publicly communicate a clear action plan for emergency situations going forward, one that ensures students are informed promptly and effectively.”
Many students also took to social media during and after the lockdown, criticizing the school’s emergency protocols. Several told CTV News Ottawa on Saturday that they did not receive emails or emergency alerts from the school.
“The fact that SecurUO, is not necessarily super broadcasted. I only knew of it because I also work for the university. But other than that, there was no other communication,” said student Aika Nzisabira.
Nzisabira adds she found out about the lockdown through group chats with her friends.
“Every student has a student email at least and not everybody has the app. Not everybody knew there was an app. Like that’s just the type of thing that an email would be the best way probably to communicate, to receive,” said student Collin Fragos.
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, uOttawa says it has initiated a comprehensive review of Friday’s emergency response. The school says it acknowledges the “anxiety, stress and feelings of powerlessness that were experienced as emergency campus safety protocols were deployed during Friday’s police operation.”
“The University’s safety and emergency protocols are instituted responsibly and with the utmost care and caution. These protocols are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure continuous improvement. As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening campus safety, we have already initiated a comprehensive review of yesterday’s emergency response,” said uOttawa spokesperson Jesse Robichaud in an email.
The statement adds that its security app, SecurUO, is the best way to receive campus alerts and that emails cannot always be relied on.
“To stay safe and protect our university community, we encourage all students and staff to download the uOttawa safety app SecurUO on their mobile devices and to enable notifications. E-mail cannot be relied on as a primary means of safety alerts when time is of the essence due to delivery limitations. In an emergency, this app is the most prompt and reliable way to receive emergency notifications and the latest information.”
In a statement issued late Friday night, uOttawa president Marie-Eve Sylvestre encouraged students and staff distressed by the situation to seek out health and wellness supports available through the university.
With files from CTV’s Josh Marano
