A false report to 9-1-1 on Wednesday (June 3) at 12 p.m. caused several police units to be dispatched and local area schools, as well as a public building, to be locked down.

An unidentified caller phoned 9-1-1 and reported that a violent domestic incident involving shots being fired was occurring in the 14600-block of 17A Avenue.

Several police units including patrol officers and the Integrated Emergency Response Team (IERT) and Police Dog Services (IPDS) were dispatched and responded immediately. As a precaution, two nearby schools, H.T. Thrift Elementary and Semiahmoo Senior Secondary, as well as the South Surrey Indoor Pool, were locked down.

The subsequent on-scene investigation revealed that the call was false and the local area lockdowns were lifted.

“Making a false report is a crime,” said Cpl. Scotty Schumann. “We will be working hard to identify the caller and will forward charges of public mischief. Persons convicted of public mischief can face a jail sentence of five years and a fine of up to $5,000.  I’m thankful that no one had a genuine emergency at the same time and that none of our first responders were injured getting to scene as quick as they could.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or CrimeStoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.