Recent School Threats Revealed as Hoaxes

Two lockdowns at opposite ends of the county gave schools and parents a fright this past week. Both Northfield and Woodland Park Elementary Schools went into lockdown on separate days when reports of potential violence were raised. Thankfully, there was never any confirmation of the threats actually being present, and even more importantly, all students remained safe.

“I will do whatever it takes to protect our students, our teachers, and everyone at those schools,” said Sheriff Steve Page, addressing the recent scares. “We will do everything in our power to keep the school safe.”

On May 19, there was a call to Northfield Elementary that claimed there was a gunman inside the bathroom at the school. Law enforcement acted fast, sweeping across the school and surrounding area, but there was no evidence of the threat.

Woodland Park Elementary had an incident the following morning. On the same day as the kindergarten graduation, no less, someone claimed that they had seen a man dressed in black with a rifle in the wooded area beside the school. Law enforcement once again acted fast, with dozens of officers sweeping the area, as well as checking all the adults who were coming in for the kindergarten graduation.

“Someone reported somebody in those woods, right by the school, dressed in black,” said Sheriff Page. “We never saw that person; there was no confirmation of them being there, but we did not take any chances. So, we ramped up security there. We’re going to ramp up presence in all the schools.”

The call Northfield received was the same call that hit Putnam County schools. Eight schools in Putnam were hit with the same hoax call, of someone hiding in the bathroom with a weapon. Northfield’s proximity to Putnam may explain why it was targeted by the hoax calls as well. The silver lining, of course, is that no students were hurt during any of these lockdowns.