A heavy police presence at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre on Tuesday evening was the result of a false claim that someone had a gun, said police.

Officers responded to the mall at 4:30 p.m. for a possible person concealing a firearm.

However, upon the officers locating the person in question, it was quickly concluded to be false. The man was not in possession of any weapon and the person who called 911 was mistaken, said Cpl. James Grandy.

鈥淚n instances where a report may involve weapons, our officers are trained to prioritize and respond proportionally, ensuring the safety of the public. Upon arriving at a scene, they鈥檙e trained to quickly assess the situation, identifying any level of threat and taking action to deescalate,鈥� said Grandy.

Police strongly encourage the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.