Bridgewater Police say an armed 40-year-old man in a home near two schools prompted a lockdown Monday afternoon.

Police searched the man's house. They said they believe there may be a marijuana grow operation inside. (Preston Mulligan/CBC)

In a news release, Bridgewater Police said they received a complaint at 11:16 a.m. Monday of, "a distraught male inside a residence with a firearm described as an assault rifle."

Police told CBC News they are investigating whether shots were fired at the home.

They said the man had been drinking and was depressed.

The lockdown order at Bridgewater Elementary School and Bridgewater Junior Senior High was lifted a few hours later as a precautionary measure.

Police said the man was arrested around 2:15 Monday afternoon when he stepped out of his house, located about two blocks away from the schools on York Street.

Police are searching the man's house. They said they believe there may be a marijuana grow operation inside.

Schools locked down as a precaution

Lori Ferraina, the assistant to the superintendent at the South Shore Regional School Board, confirmed the schools were placed in lockdown over concerns about someone in the community nearby.

Ferraina said that person was not in the school.

"The certain someone [police] have concerns about is not in the school," she said, "But the schools were locked down to keep out anyone that may try to get in."

Parents of Bridgewater elementary students wait at NSCC to pick up their children after they were evacuated from school. (Preston Mulligan/CBC)

Trish Smith, communications manager for the school board, said Bridgewater police requested that the schools be put into lockdown as a precautionary measure.

"At this point I can tell you that we were contacted by the Bridgewater town police and requested to initially put Bridgewater Elementary School and Bridgewater Junior Senior High School under lockdown — which means nobody in, nobody out," said Smith.

"We were told that there was a potential threat to the community but we were not given any indication that there was a threat directed towards the school."

Police had nearby streets blocked off, those streets have since reopened.

Students from the elementary school were bused to the Nova Scotia Community College across town. Students at the junior senior high were told to remain at the school to finish classes as scheduled.

Smith said elementary students who are usually bused home were bused from NSCC. She said any parents who normally pick up their children were asked to pick them up at the college.

"As of right now, we haven't been given any indication as to what the threat is, just that everyone is safe and that we are taking every precaution," she said.

Smith said police informed the school board that any potential threat was under control.