North Vancouver RCMP are asking the Crown to lay a criminal charge against the teen they say brought a small explosive to Handsworth secondary, triggering an evacuation last week.
The student was taken into custody but later released on a promise to appear in court in April. Police are recommending a charge of possession of an explosive substance.
In the meantime, the teen is not allowed to go to Handsworth and he must not be in possession of “incendiary devices including matches, lighters or accelerants,” according to Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman.
Police aren’t saying what the device was, other than that it was homemade.
“It was an amateur attempt to have an explosive device, which involved rudimentary explosives,” De Jong said. “It’s really basic stuff.”
Similarly, neither the school district nor the police are saying how the student was caught.
“Let’s just say he drew attention to himself by his actions,” De Jong said.
It’s possible the student could plead to a lesser charge or be diverted from the court system entirely and sent to a restorative justice (program), De Jong said. That would be up to the Crown, however.
The student doesn’t have a previous criminal record, De Jong said.
As of Monday, the school district had not yet meted out a punishment but while the student isn’t allowed on campus, he is having his classwork sent home to him, according to district spokeswoman Deneka Michaud.
In the future, he may have to take his course load online or be sent to another school, she added.
