Boy, 15, facing drug charges after Hamilton high school put in lockdown

A 15-year-old boy is facing several drug charges following a security incident at a Hamilton high school on Wednesday morning.

Hamilton police say they were called to Bernie Custis Secondary School on King Street East around 11 a.m. following reports of an armed male on the scene.

Investigators say the person in question was then seen leaving the area in a vehicle, which was located at a nearby gas station. The five occupants in the car were taken into custody as police searched for a firearm which they were led to believe was in a bag within the school

“In the interest of safety, Bernie Custis Public Secondary School, the recreation center, and Jimmy Thompson Pool were placed under lockdown for several hours as the police conducted a thorough search,” police said in a statement. “Fortunately, everyone remained safe during this process.”

Just before 2 p.m. the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board said the lockdown had been lifted and students had been dismissed for the day.

Police have charged a 15-year-old boy with one count each of possession of cocaine and fentanyl as well as proceeds of crime under $5,000. The boy’s identity cannot be made public under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act but police did confirm he is a student at the school.