More details have emerged regarding the incident that took place at La Verendrye School on June 14th, 2018 when a man was arrested on premises.

"Portage la Prairie RCMP were informed by attentive school staff that there was an unwanted adult male in La Verendrye School while students were still in attendance," says Media Relations Liaison Constable Sean O'Keefe.  "Quick thinking school staff kept the school in a 'soft lockdown' until officers were able to attend, ensuring the safety of all students and staff. Officers located the 20-year-old male inside a classroom, where he was arrested for having several outstanding warrants. Donavin Meeches of Portage la Prairie was held in police custody until such time as he could be brought before the court on numerous criminal charges."

Portage School Division Superintendant Todd Cuddington provides further information,

"We received a call from our administration at the school," says Cuddington. "They indicated that an individual had been observed on campus.  He was attending a community outreach event.  He was one of the individuals who was listed with a 'No Trespass' order, that had been registered with the division office."

Cuddington also detailed the use of terminology by the RCMP.

"That may be a term that the RCMP uses," says Cuddington. "It's not something that we use in the division.  I guess what they mean by that is that kids were kept in classrooms.  That's not the language that we would use for a lockdown.  As a precaution, so kids didn't observe an individual being arrested in the school, the administration advised that the kids just remain in their classrooms."

We will post further information as it becomes available.