South Portland Police Chief Dan Ahern said his officers “acted reasonably and appropriately given the circumstances” when they detained a student near Deering High School while seeking to arrest another person.

South Portland police were in Portland to arrest a suspect in a burglary and “known to associate with individuals who carry and use firearms in the commission of crimes,” police said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. 

South Portland officers including a SWAT team had traveled to 19 Orkney St. near Deering High in order to arrest Miles Hibbard, 19, and to search his home.

“Officers also had reason to believe that there may be ammunition in the home,” police stated.

Upon arriving at the address, officers saw a person matching Hibbard’s description who left a vehicle and was walking toward the address, according to the statement.

With guns drawn, police ordered the person to stop and to lay down, police said. Officers searched the person, handcuffed him and took him away from the address.

“While identifying him, officers quickly determined that this young man was not the subject of the arrest warrant,” police said. “They immediately released him and one other individual who officers detained in the vehicle from which the other exited, with the entire incident lasting less than five minutes.”

The incident occurred near the school and was witnessed by some students, according to police.

The person detained is a student at Deering High School. The student’s family, who are Black, told the Portland Press Herald that he was a victim of racial profiling.

One other person was also detained in the incident.

Hibbard was later arrested at his workplace in Cape Elizabeth.

“This was an unfortunate circumstance where two young men, who were enjoying their lunch break from Deering High School, parked their car nearly in front of a house that was to be searched by police,” South Portland Police Chief Dan Ahern said. “One of the young men matched the description of the subject who lives in the house and was briefly detained. As a parent myself I completely understand how this incident could be very upsetting for innocent young people caught in the middle of a police action. I’m grateful to school administrators for providing resources to anyone affected by this incident. I believe our officers acted reasonably and appropriately given the circumstances and information they had at the time.” 

Police said the incident will be reviewed further to ensure that correct procedures were followed.