Schools lift extra security precautions

Several Wayne County schools tightened security for about 90 minutes Monday morning after a reported domestic situation raised safety concerns.

Richmond Police Department received an anonymous call at 8:27 a.m. Monday from an individual claiming to have taken his wife hostage and to be en route to a local community school with a bomb, according to Adam Blanton, assistant chief, in a news release.

Blanton said the caller provided vague information that potentially implicated Northeastern Wayne School Corp. and Richmond Community Schools.

Alan Moore, Wayne County Sheriff Office’s chief deputy, said in a news release that the caller claimed to be going to Northeastern to “kill everyone.” 

As a precaution, all local schools were immediately placed on secure school status while officers conducted their investigation, Blanton said. 

WCSO, RPD, Richmond Community Schools and Fountain City police departments, Indiana State Police and Wayne County Emergency Communications Center collaborated.

“After a thorough and swift response, all information provided to the Richmond Police Department has been determined to be unfounded,” Blanton said. “Officers have checked and verified all associated residences, schools, and potential victims, and there is no credible threat.”

Moore said the name provided by the caller didn’t correspond to any students at Northeastern or surrounding schools.

RPD, WCSO detectives and the WCSO Threat Assessment Team are continuing to investigate. Those with information are asked to call 765-983-7247 or email rpdcrimetip@richmondindiana.gov.

Department leaders reassured the community that, as of 10:57 a.m., there was no active threat.

“This type of behavior is not only reckless but dangerous, creating unnecessary fear and disruption within our community,” Chief Kyle Weatherly said in the release. “We will not tolerate such actions, and the Richmond Police Department will conduct a full investigation. When the responsible parties are identified, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

At 10:06 a.m., Richmond Community Schools officials confirmed its districtwide precautions had been lifted, and staff and students would continue with their day.

Bridget Hazelbaker, RCS’ director of student support and communications, said those precautions began when school officials became aware of the threat.

Officials believed Starr Elementary School could be most at risk because they thought the caller making the threat had a child attending that school.

Starr was locked down until 9:57 a.m., when RCS announced that all students and staff were safe and secure. 

Other RCS buildings were placed on classroom secure status, meaning that students couldn’t go outside for recess and had to be escorted to restrooms.

Hazelbaker said RCS conducts frequent drills for these types of alerts.

“The kids did amazing,” she said.

RCS’ police department as well as Richmond Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office all worked collaboratively to protect the schools, Hazelbaker said.

Northeastern Wayne Superintendent Matthew Hicks said the Knights had returned to instruction on Monday morning, but were still “taking measures to keep students safe.”

At about 9:45 a.m. Monday, Nettle Creek Schools leaders announced they had activated their shelter In place protocol as a precautionary measure to a developing situation in Wayne County.

Hagerstown Police Department announced there was no imminent threat at Nettle Creek schools.

Nettle Creek officials said teaching and learning would continue as normal inside the building. All students and staff will remain inside the building and exterior doors would remain locked. Classroom doors are locked, and office staff and school resource officers are monitoring entrance to the front doors.

“Based on the investigation by law enforcement, they believe the threat to have been a hoax or ‘swatting’ situation at a neighboring school,” said Superintendent Emily Schaeffer on social media. “Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to make staff and student safety our first priority.”

Some local private schools also took precautions, including Richmond Friends School, which lifted its lockdown at 10:21 a.m.

Updated Aug. 19 at 4:10 p.m. to include information from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Updated Aug. 19 at 11:30 a.m. to include initial comment from Northeastern Wayne Superintendent. Updated Aug. 19 at 11:17 a.m. to include a social media statement from Nettle Creek School Corp. Updated Aug. 19 at 11:10 a.m. to include information released by the Richmond Police Department