Police clear Douglas Memorial after 1 a.m. threat; no danger found

Niagara Regional Police swept the Douglas Memorial facility in the early hours of Thursday morning after a threat called in around 1:20 a.m. prompted a hold and secure at the facility, which was lifted by 7:45 a.m. with no arrests made and no credible danger found.

The incident is the latest in a series of threats targeting public institutions across Niagara, following a swatting incident at multiple Fort Erie schools in early March that police also determined to be non-credible.

Fort Erie units and a K9 team responded to the facility on Bertie Street after the call came in. Officers found no immediate threat on scene and have since cleared the building.

Niagara Health placed the site under a hold and secure at the request of police, asking patients and visitors to avoid the facility while the response was underway. Patients inside continued to receive care throughout.

Constable Rich Hingley sent an email response to Fort Erie Radio saying the investigation remains ongoing despite the all-clear.

Hingley noted police received no further calls about other Niagara Health sites.

The hold and secure protocol, initiated at the request of police, restricted movement within the building while officers assessed the situation.

Niagara Health internally declared a Code Silver at the Fort Erie site, a protocol used by hospitals and health facilities when there is a reported threat involving a weapon or person. The code was lifted once officers cleared the building.

Niagara Health confirmed the site resumed regular operations after the hold and secure was lifted and said it increased the security presence at the facility as a precaution.

“We no longer have any officers on scene,” said Hingley. “However, if you do recall, we had a swatting incident with schools recently, and other services have recently received similar swatting calls.”

Swatting refers to deliberately false reports designed to provoke a large emergency response based on fabricated claims of serious violence.

Police have not released information about suspects or the origin of the threat. The investigation continues.

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