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WAMAC — Staff, students, and faculty of Bridges Learning Center in Wamac sheltered in place Wednesday morning when police received calls of a man walking near the school was dressed in camouflage and appeared to be armed with a shotgun and large knife.

According to Wamac Police Chief Steve Prather, the call was broadcast to Centralia dispatch and all available officers from Centralia and Wamac responded to the area.

Upon arrival, Centralia Police Lt. Steve Whritenour made contact with school personnel, advised them of the situation and advised them to shelter in place until the area had been secured or until they received further instructions.

Chief Prather quickly located the suspect walking in the baseball field area of Wamac Park and notified other officers of the suspect’s location.

Officers from both departments quickly surrounded the suspect and ordered him to discard the long gun he was carrying and after several commands, he finally threw the gun to the ground.

As officers began to secure the suspect, they reportedly found several knives on him including a large machete that was attached to a combat-type belt.

The gun turned out to be a bb gun that resembled a shotgun. The suspect was identified as 49-year-old William R. Montaya. He was transported to the Wamac Police Department and charged with disorderly conduct and was released. The bb gun and knives were secured as evidence.

Bridges Learning Center was advised of the arrest and they returned to normal operations.

According to Chief Prather, the situation was made more difficult as school buses were arriving at the school when the report came in.

Prather commended the quick response of all officers and thanked the Centralia Police Department for their assistance.

He says in this day and age, these types of calls are taken very seriously.