PORTLAND, Connecticut — Twenty-seven people were safely evacuated from the Middletown-Portland Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday afternoon after a man threatened to shoot people there, according to the Portland Police Department.
Around 12:22 p.m., the Middletown Dispatch Center was alerted by a Veterans Crisis Line, which stated there was a male on the line claiming he was armed with a gun and threatening to shoot people in the church on Waverly Avenue, according to Portland police. The man reportedly threatened to turn the gun on himself as well.
Both Portland police and members of the Middletown Police Department responded to the call, and the immediate area was closed to the public. A reverse 911 was activated, asking residents to shelter in place.
Police say all 27 people who occupied the church were evacuated safely.
Both Portland and Middletown police searched the church and deemed it to be safe with no one inside and no active threat, according to police.
During the call, Portland Police K9 Magnus and handler Officer Mike Revicki were deployed, as were hostage negotiators. Police say a drone unit from Middletown police was also used in the search and clearing of the church, and the Middletown SWAT Team was prepared to act if necessary.
As police look to identify the caller, they say that the investigation is active and ongoing.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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