Police arrest teenagers at Vancouver high school after weapon complaint

Several Vancouver high school students were arrested Monday evening after police received a call about a gun but instead found bear spray.

Const. Tania Visintin, a spokesperson for the Vancouver police, said at around 5 p.m., a witness phoned police advising she believed she saw a group of teens in the west lane of Fraser Street between 17th and 18th with a gun.

A witness told Postmedia that about 10 teens were lying on the ground while police searched their backpacks just outside of Charles Tupper Secondary.

Visintin confirmed VPD officers arrested the teens and searched their backpacks but did not say why the kids were told to lie on the ground. No gun was located, but officers found and confiscated a can of bear spray.

The teens were released and the VPD’s youth services unit will be following up with the school and the students, said Visintin.