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Field, Ont., residents told to 'stay inside' as police searched for 'dangerous' suspects

Tactical officer with assault rifle in Field, Ont., as Ontario Provincial Police searched for 'dangerous suspects.' March 29, 2024 Tactical officer with assault rifle in Field, Ont., as Ontario Provincial Police searched for 'dangerous suspects.' March 29, 2024
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A lot of concern and speculation is circulating in the small northern Ontario community of Field on Friday after a massive police search for "dangerous" suspects.

Ontario Provincial Police sent the first Tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the incident shortly after 5 a.m. advising "motorists not to pick up anyone in the area."

The area included Muskosung Lake between Highways 575 and 64 and included Highway 539.

CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca spoke to several concerned residents who asked to remain anonymous.

One woman told CTV News in a phone interview she and her husband were outside to let their chickens out around 7:30 a.m. when they saw police cars driving by really slowly with their lights on.

Some officers stopped and told the couple to go inside as they were searching for "dangerous suspects," she said.

OPP Sgt. Pete McKee told CTV News in a phone interview they didn't have the resources to go door-to-door to alert local residents and couldn't provide any details about the incident.

A man who lives on Grande Allee said he saw about seven police vehicles in his neighbourhood.

"The police were patrolling the area for at least an hour and a half including driving back and forth along the road that leads to the boat launch for Muskasung lake," he said.

"They could have made an announcement on their PA systems on their cars."

His spouse saw their neighbour speak to an officer and then immediately turn around, pick up his dog and went inside, he added.

Police showed up in full force with more vehicles, a helicopter, ATVs, and the canine and tactical units.

OPP helicopter searching for suspects in Field, Ont. March 29, 2024

The female resident said police went into the forest behind her neighbour's house.

Tactical officer searching property off Highway 575 in Field, Ont., for 'dangerous suspects' March 29, 2024

The highways in the area were shut down as they searched, but have since reopened.

"(Highway) 575 was also closed from Hwy. 64 to Hwy. 17," the man who lives on Grande Allee said.

"So, basically, from the post office all the way down."

Just after 11, OPP Tweeted an update saying police had concluded the investigation in the area and police resources were clearing.

Around that time, officers drove by the woman's house again and gave her husband a "thumbs up" while he was outside.

OPP helicopter searching for suspects in Field, Ont. March 29, 2024

When CTV News called OPP, the staff sergeant would not give any details about what happened and only said "Things are still under investigation" and to please call back later.

The Field resident said the most concerning thing is that there was no communication from police to residents about the situation and if they hadn't been outside when officers drove by, they wouldn't have known to stay inside.

"Nothing was released on Facebook or anything," she said.

"Imagine if my child was home alone or for people not on social media."

Heavy police presence in Field, Ont., searching for 'dangerous suspects' March 29, 2024

A post on a Facebook group for local residents made at 6:12 a.m. about the incident has more than 170 comments and 160 shares.

The chatter in the comments indicates three or four suspects were found and arrested, but that information has not been confirmed by police.

CTV News will continue to follow the story and provide updates above as new information becomes available.

If you have any information, photos or videos of the incident you would like to share, please send to NorthernOntarioDigitalNews@bellmedia.ca.

Map of the search area in Field, Ont., March 29, 2024 (Ontario Provincial Police)

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