Suspect In Scituate Schools Lockdown May Not Face Charges

SCITUATE, MA — The man has was taken into custody Tuesday following a lockdown at three schools in Scituate may not face charges, Police Chief Michael Stewart said.

At 8:30 a.m., police received a report from a woman that man identified as 46-year-old Douglas Simonovitch of Oxford left her vehicle on Route 3A near the Scituate Public Safety Complex. Police say Simonovitch made suicidal statements and threats towards officers before fleeing into the woods.

During the search for Simonovitch, Scituate High School, Cushing Elementary School, and Gates Middle School were placed on lockdown and a portion of the road was closed. The Scituate Town Library was also placed on lockdown during the search.

Simonovitch was taken into custody at about 1 p.m and remains in the booking process as of 2 p.m. Stewart said the man may not face charges and the area of concern for police is Simonovitch's mental health.

"We’re not done with this. (Simonovitch) is still in the booking. Right now aside from some veiled threat, there’s nothing specific," Stewart told reporters. "We have time to assess if we’re going to file additional charges. Right now we’re concerned with his mental health."

MetroLEC, State Police, ATF, and the FBI's Boston office assisted with the search.

Simonovitch was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Hingham District Court, but will not be transported there today, according to Stewart. Whether he will stay at the police station or at a hospital has not been determined.

This story will be updated.