Chainsaw-Wielding Man Sends School Into Lockdown
Police have arrested a man who sent a school into lockdown after being spotted with a chainsaw.
St Helena college -- in Eltham North, 30 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD -- was placed in lockdown after the man was seen nearby, said to be holding a chainsaw, on Friday afternoon around 1pm.
The man has now moved away from the campus and is said to be in a nearby property, where police are negotiating with him.
"Police were called to Parry Road Eltham North about 1pm this afternoon after reports that a man was in the street with a chainsaw," a Victoria Police spokesperson told 10 daily.
"Police attended the scene and the man went to a nearby address. Officers are currently attempting to negotiate with the man who no longer has the chainsaw with him."
A heavy police presence swarmed the area, including a helicopter overhead.
Calls to the school went unanswered on Friday afternoon. The Victorian Department of Education and Training has been contacted for comment.
Around 3.30pm, police advised that a man had been taken into custody.
"Police have arrested a man in Eltham following reports he was observed allegedly with a chainsaw on Parry Road about 1pm. No one was injured during the incident," a police spokesperson said.
"The man was arrested at an address on Parry Road without further incident and will be taken to hospital for assessment."