Alerts about man with machete prompt some confusion in Gaetz Brook, N.S.

Alerts about a man with a machete in Gaetz Brook, N.S., caused confusion on Tuesday.

A quiet road in the Gaetz Brook area of the Halifax Regional Municipality returned to normal a day after a series of emergency alerts warned residents about a man reportedly carrying a machete.

Homes in the neighbourhood sit close together, with neighbours just steps apart, which amplified concerns Tuesday night when phones lit up with three alerts.

RCMP said the situation began around 6:55 p.m., when officers responded to a report of a man in distress carrying a machete on Petpeswick Drive.

Police gathered information at the scene and issued an emergency alert after 8 p.m., advising residents in the area to shelter in place. However, confusion quickly followed.

The first alert referenced Musquodoboit Harbour, which prompted questions from residents and local officials.

“The first thing I looked at, the alert didn’t have any clarity on the address,” said area councillor David Hendsbee. “So I sent an email note quickly off to the RCMP asking for clarification.”

A second alert was then issued correcting the location to Gaetz Brook.

Mandy Edwards, public information officer with the RCMP, said the update was necessary due to similar road names in the municipality.

“There was confusion with the initial alert,” Edwards said. “It came in as Musquodoboit Harbour, but it was actually in Gaetz Brook, so that was the reason for the second alert.”

As officers continued their investigation, police say the situation evolved.

Edwards said the original report that prompted the alerts, which was a phone call to police that was later was determined to be not credible.

“As officers were on scene, they continued to collect information and complete a continuous risk assessment,” she said. “It was determined that the initial information provided to police was not credible, and therefore the risk to public safety was no longer in effect.”

A third alert was issued later in the evening, informing residents they no longer needed to shelter in place.

Despite the all-clear, Hendsbee said the alerts caused significant anxiety in the community.

“For that first hour-and-a-half, it did concern people,” he said, adding that clearer communication in the initial alert could have reduced confusion.

On Wednesday afternoon, a police cruiser was seen back in the neighbourhood, with officers speaking to residents as part of the ongoing investigation.

RCMP said the man involved is from the community and has been identified; however, he has not yet been located. Edwards said there is no evidence to support criminal charges, but police are continuing their efforts to find the man to ensure his wellbeing.

She added that while multiple alerts may feel disruptive, they are issued to help residents make informed decisions about their safety.

“What may seem like an inconvenience or an annoyance to others is important information for the people involved,” Edwards said.

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