New details have come to light about a police incident that briefly put two Saanich Peninsula schools on hold and secure last week.
On Wednesday, September 17th, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP responded to a report of a man who allegedly stole food from Save-On-Foods in Sidney.
When confronted, the suspect showed a firearm and fled the store. The incident was recorded on store CCTV, leading officers to warn nearby schools as a precaution.
At around 1 p.m., Sidney Elementary and North Saanich Middle School locked their doors and kept students and staff inside while police looked into what was initially described as a “suspicious occurrence”.
The hold and secure lasted about 25 minutes, and schools resumed regular activities shortly after 1:25 p.m.
The following day, September 18th, officers located a stolen dinghy in Tsehum Harbour linked to the same suspect. They arrested 40-year-old Mark Mulschlegel aboard a sailboat after identifying him from store surveillance footage.
Police later recovered the stolen outboard motor during a search of the vessel.
Mulschlegel appeared in court on September 19th and has been charged with robbery and possession of stolen property.
In a message to families, school officials praised how calmly students and staff responded during the hold and secure, saying “they did an amazing job” and reaffirming that safety remains a top priority.
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP continue to investigate and are asking anyone with additional information to contact them.
