St. Brieux high school grad disturbed by online threat

Uniformed RCMP officers caused some concern for parents and students at St. Brieux High School on Friday after a threat was reportedly made against the graduation ceremony in the small community southwest of Melfort.

A threat posted to social media by a former student prompted a response from police, with students and staff being pulled aside for interviews just prior to the cap and gown affair.

Melfort RCMP Staff Sgt. Deon Marquis told 650 CKOM by the time families were arriving at the school, the threat had already passed.

“It just happened that this incident was just before their graduation ceremony,” he said.

“As we were doing our follow-up investigation we just happened to be there.”

The commanding officer noted an 18-year-old man, Brendan Hunt, was arrested at his St. Brieux home on a single charge of uttering threats.

Horizon School Division confirmed they activated a violent threat risk assessment protocol to determine the seriousness of the threat.

“Details regarding the incident are not shared with the public while the assessment is taking place, for the safety of all involved,” the division wrote in a statement.

Hunt appeared in Melfort provincial court Tuesday morning.

—With files from 650 CKOM’s Daniella Ponticelli.