Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin was placed briefly on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a false report that a person in a mental health crisis on the way to the hospital was armed with a gun, according to police. Authorities quickly determined that the person did not have a firearm, police said.
Berlin Police Sgt. Mark Monteith said the report came in around 4:40 p.m., and the lockdown at the medical center lasted about 10 minutes.
The sergeant said two members of the Berlin Police Department and three Vermont State Police officers went to the hospital. The lockdown was lifted after they determined the person did not have a firearm.
No charges are expected as a result of the incident, Monteith said.
“There was no crime committed,” he said.
Elliott Bent, director of communication and engagement at Central Vermont Medical Center, described the event as “a complete false alarm.”
“We followed all the protocols we have in place,” he said.